UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones thinks he’s better than Francis Ngannou inside the cage, but he doesn’t see the need to keep up with the feud.
Two of the biggest names in heavyweight MMA were under one roof at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta for the 2023 PFL 5. Jones was there to hit up his training partner Maurice Greene, who competed in the main event against 2022 season winner Ante DeLiga. Ngannou, who recently signed a lucrative deal with the PFL that includes freedom to set up and lead an African initiative for the promotion, was also on hand to take part in the heavyweight fights and discuss his signing during the broadcast.
Jones was interviewed behind the scenes during the broadcast, and despite their recent multiple interactions back and forth on Twitter and stuttering interviews for pickups, said he’s cool with Ngannou.
“I’ve met Francis before, he’s a guy’s sweetheart,” Jones told ESPN. “Outside of the fighting game, he’s a very decent guy. I can be very respectful as well. I’m looking forward to seeing brother and giving him some joints.
“…If we don’t fight, there’s no reason to have a bunch of beef, especially when we see each other face to face. It’s great to talk trash and keep the fans excited and stuff like that, but if there’s no fighting contract, we’re brothers at the end.” today “.
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 at not fighting Jones before leaving the UFC, but has invited Jones and UFC President Dana White to make a cross-promotional bout with the PFL.
“I know I’m worse than he is,” said Jones. “So, I don’t have to give him any weird looks or anything. He’s big muscles, he’s a great looking character, but when it comes to this fighting game, he’s my whole world and I know who I am.”
At the end of the event, the two heavyweights crossed the lanes beside the cage. Jones and Nganno shook hands and shared some competitive but respectful words. “You don’t want any smoke,” Jones told Langano.
While there were competitive words exchanged in the interaction, so were smiles and handshakes, all of which seemed like a respectful moment between two competitors who had just missed out on the opportunity to fight each other now that they were on two different shows.
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