UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones absolutely believes he’s better than Francis Ngannou inside the cage, but doesn’t see the need to keep up the animosity.
Two of the biggest names in heavyweight MMA were under the same roof at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta for 2023 PFL 5. Jones was there to corner his training partner Maurice Greene, who competed in the main event against 2022 season winner Ante Delija. Ngannou, who recently signed a lucrative deal with the PFL that includes freedom to box and spearhead an African initiative for the promotion, was also in attendance to take in the heavyweight fights and discuss his signing during the broadcast.
Jones was interviewed backstage during the event, and despite their multiple recent back-and-forth interactions on Twitter and crashing interviews to take shots, said he’s cool with Ngannou.
“I’ve met Francis before, he’s a sweetheart of a guy,” Jones told ESPN. “Outside of the fight game, he’s a pretty respectful guy. I can be pretty respectful as well. I’m looking forward to seeing the brother and giving him some knuckles.
“… If we’re not fighting, there’s no reason to have a bunch of beef, especially when we see each other in person. It’s cool to talk trash and keep the fans excited and stuff like that, but if there’s no fight contract, we’re bros at the end of the day.”
There have been a number of heated exchanges between Jones and Ngannou since the former heavyweight champion signed with the PFL. Ngannou recently expressed regret about not fighting Jones before leaving the UFC, but invited Jones and UFC president Dana White to make a cross-promotional bout happen with the PFL.
“I know that I’m badder than him,” Jones said. “So, I don’t have to give him any weird looks or whatever. He’s big muscles, he’s a very impressive-looking figure, but when it comes to this fight game, it’s my whole world and I know who I am.”
At the end of the event, the two heavyweights crossed paths cageside. Jones and Ngannou shook hands and shared a few competitive, yet respectful words. “You don’t want no smoke,” Jones told Ngannou. “No, you sat back for three years,” Ngannou responded.
While there were competitive words were exchanged in the interaction, so were smiles and handshakes, as it all appeared to be a respectful moment between two competitors who just missed the chance to fight each other now that they are in two different promotions.
