The UFC community has long speculated about the possibility of Francis Ngannou taking on Jon Jones—a matchup that could redefine the sport. But this highly anticipated battle never happened, sparking widespread controversy over who was to blame. Recently, UFC President Dana White explicitly blamed Ngannou, sparking further controversy.
Dana White has publicly stated that the reason the fight between Jones and Nganno never happened was entirely due to Francis Nganno. During a recent press conference at the Dana White Contender Series, White confirmed that John Jones was looking forward to facing Ngannou, but it was Ngannou who backtracked saying Jones had no problem with White using his stepped into the Octagon with ‘The Predator’, the decision not to fight rests solely on Ngannou and he was illuminating.
“The fight against [Francis Nganno] didn’t happen, and what can I say—it wasn’t because of Jon Jones,” White said. “She wanted Francis. They saw what happened to Cyril Gane. And he will tell you, as he told us, that he will do the same to Francis Nganno. He desperately wanted that fight. You can’t fight people, and we can’t fight Francis.”
UFC veteran Derek Brunson Speaking out against Dana White
Not everyone in the UFC community is buying Dana White’s version of the event. UFC veteran Derek Brunson publicly questioned White’s statement, suggesting that the statement may not be as forthright as the UFC president delivers. Brunson took to social media to express his doubts by commenting on MMA Fighting’s Instagram post.
“I swear I thought Dana said John didn’t want to fight Francis when he was in the UFC. Am I making a mistake?” Brunson wrote, questioning White’s assertion that Jones was fully on board for the fight.
The allegations have reignited debate between fans and fighters, with many now questioning the veracity of White’s statement. Brunson’s comments added complexity to an already heated discussion about why Jones and Nganno never happened.
Francis Nganno’s Answer: A Missed Opportunity, not a Dodge
Francis Nganno has always said he wants to fight John Jones despite what Dana White has suggested. In a previous interview, Ngannou expressed his disappointment that the UFC never seriously advanced the matchup between him and Jones. According to Nganno, this fight was something he was pushing for, especially after his win over Jaerzinho Rosenstruik, but the UFC couldn’t make it happen.
“At first when I was there, John Jones wasn’t around,” Ngannou said. “We were talking even three years ago. I was fighting Jaerzinho Rosenstruik and asking for this fight. I was pushing Jon Jones so hard because I knew UFC was going to do a [Daniel Cormier] vs. Stipe [Miocic] 3, a Stipe vs. DC trilogy. So I wanted John Jones to fight, and that discussion was never brought up. It was used to illustrate both sides.”
Nganno’s comments paint a different picture than White’s, suggesting that the UFC may have been the stumbling block in its handling of the fight. According to ‘The Predator’, both he and Jones enjoyed the fight, but the public never took the necessary steps to repair it.
What’s next for John Jones and Frances Nganno?
As such, Jon Jones is on a break, recovering from injury and preparing for a possible return to the Octagon in November against Stipe Miocic. The possible future of a fight with Ngannou seems to be looking uncertain, especially with Ngannou leaving the UFC. But the controversy surrounding the fight of the day still generates buzz.
