PFL featherweight champion Brendan Loughnane has insisted that fans should think twice before backing Jon Jones to beat Tyson Fury in an unsanctioned street fight.
The debate between MMA and boxing fans over a potential bout between heavyweight champions Jones and Fury began when UFC commentator Joe Rogan joked that he would put all of his money on the cage legend winning between the pair. But Loughnane, who is friends with fellow Manchester native Fury and a world champion in the PFL, is not so sure.
Fury has rubbished the idea entirely and claimed that he would only face Jones in a boxing ring under traditional rules, while UFC president Dana White has offered him the fight in his octagon. And Loughnane has warned fans against betting on a Fury opponent after his legendary boxing career.
"I don't think anyone beats him in boxing so let's just stick to boxing," Loughnane told Mirror Fighting, before elaborating on the street fight idea. "That comment that was made like 'put the two men in a room' and all that? I would not want to be the only guy in a room with Tyson Fury. I would not like my odds of getting out of that room if I"m Jon Jones or anyone.
"Look at the size of the man, look at his hands. He's going to be a nightmare for anyone, even Jon Jones so I wouldn't take that statement too lightly, honestly."
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And Loughnane is confident that a crossover fight will happen but with the lineal UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in a boxing ring. The Cameroonian has just signed with PFL but is plotting a boxing match or two before he makes his return to the cage next year.
"I think that might happen, you know?" He teased of the Ngannou fight. "I really think Francis will fight him, I really do. With the way PFL operates and the way Tyson operates, I could see PFL and Tyson and Ngannou getting together to make it happen, I could do, I definitely could see that."
Fury and Ngannou went head-to-head in the ring last year after the Brit defeated Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium, and both appeared keen on a bout. Since then, the MMA star has left the UFC in order to sign with PFL but never lost his world title leaving Jones to pick up the vacant strap from Ciryl Gane.
