Francis Ngannou Says He Initially Chased Jones Fight: ‘Nobody Seemed to Be Interested’

While the current narrative from the UFC is that Francis Ngannou ran away from a potential Jon Jones fight, the former heavyweight champion was the person who initially pursued that matchup.

“Look, I wanted that fight as well. I’m the one that initiated that fight over two years ago,” Ngannou told TMZ Sports. “I wanted that fight, but where was Jon Jones at that time? I don’t know. Nobody seems interested, even Dana White. Nobody seems to be interested. They always find a way to go around it.

“Today, it’s not about that fight, it’s not that they wanted to give me that fight, it’s the price it was going to cost me to get that fight. I chased that fight for as long as I could and, listen, I learned in life that you have to let it go. You have to let things go, otherwise, they’ll cut your hand and take your hand away. I wanted that fight so bad, and I couldn’t have it at any cost. That’s what I will always say.”

When the two sides were unable to come to terms for a bout vs. Jones at UFC 285, Ngannou was released from his contract and stripped of his heavyweight crown. Meanwhile, Jones returned to action for the first time in three years and claimed the vacant belt with a first-round submission of Ciryl Gane. After the victory, Jones dismissed Ngannou as a “p—-y” at the UFC 285 post-fight press conference. The derogatory nature of Jones’ remarks don’t affect Ngannou, however.

“Jon is Jon, and I’m me, I don’t care,” Ngannou said. “I’ve been saying this for a little while, I am cool. I’m doing good, I did what was best for me, I’m happy. I wish that fight had happened because I feel like there’s a lot of anger, a lot of unsatisfaction on the other end — which, I don’t know — but I can’t control that. I can just control me.”

Ngannou said that he is currently in talks for a potential two-fight deal to face boxing heavyweight Deontay Wilder, and the first bout could happen as soon as this summer. While UFC president Dana White has said that Ngannou vs. Jones will never happen, “The Predator” isn’t closing the door completely on that fight happenign down the road.

“I’ve tried to manage this as gentle as I could. I did everything in my power in order to move forward, and it didn’t work,” he said. “I’ll never close the door, but now, it’s not something we can discuss because it has become very personal. I’ve just been listening to them talk about it. They’re upset, there’s a lot of anger out there, but I’m good.”