Ahead of his return fight next week at UFC 285, Jon Jones took a major shot at Francis Ngannou after the duo was originally expected to face off in a heavyweight title fight this year.
Jon Jones’ return to the UFC has been a very long and winding road. After defending the light heavyweight title for the twelfth time in Feb. of 2020, the MMA superstar decided he needed a new challenge in his career, and moving up to heavyweight to win that division’s title was the next mountain he wanted to climb.
However, a natural transition-up in weight, outside-the-cage drama, COVID, and a plethora of failed bookings pushed back his eventual return three long years. However, that is set to end on March 5 when he faces heavyweight star Ciryl Gane for the vacant title.
Related: Jon Jones next fight – Bones makes long-awaited return at UFC 285
The heavyweight belt is vacant because former champion Francis Ngannou was released was his UFC contract after he and the promotion could not come to terms on a new long-term contract that was expected to begin with a long-rumored matchup against Jones.
With arguably the biggest fight in UFC heavyweight history off the table, Jon Jones threw some major shade at Ngannou this week and questioned the Cameroonian goliath’s heart.
Jon Jones on Francis Ngannou fight falling through: ‘He didn’t believe in himself’
In a recent conversation with RMC Sport to hype his matchup next week versus Gane — the man that fell to Ngannou in his final UFC bout — the light heavyweight GOAT was asked about the failed matchup and held nothing back in foisting the blame on the former champion.
- Jon Jones record: 26-1 (10 knockouts, 6 submissions)
“I don’t think I deserve any criticism. I’m here. Francis had the opportunity to face me and he opted out of the opportunity. If anyone should be criticized, it’s Francis Ngannou. If I’m correct, he was offered the biggest contract in heavyweight history. Francis didn’t believe in himself. He wasn’t willing to gamble on himself.
“… I felt bad for the fans. I know that would have been a massive fight for the fans. People from all around the world would have loved to see that event. And I’m not counting it out — I could see Francis going and fighting in boxing and doing whatever he’s going to do. I think he’s always going to be welcome back to the UFC. That’s always going to be a big, big fight”
– Jon Jones (h/t MMA Fighting)
Jon Jones will battle Ciryl Gane in the main event of UFC 285 on Saturday, March 5 inside Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena. The bout will air exclusively on ESPN+.