The debate over the greatest heavyweight match in MMA history will forever feature a phantom bout: Francis Ngannou versus Jon Jones.
Billed as a clash between two of the “World’s Best” and true “Goats,” this anticipated fight promised to be the ultimate test of power versus pedigree.
The dream, however, was brutally dismantled outside the Octagon, fueled by a fiery social media war. Ngannou, the reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion, refused to re-sign with the promotion, choosing freedom with the Professional Fighters League (PFL), where he spectacularly dismantled the “Brazilian giant monster” Renan Ferreira.
This move came despite the PFL boss offering a willingness to create a cross-promotional league to secure the fight—a proposition Dana White reportedly rejected in broad daylight.
The friction spilled onto social media. Ngannou directly challenged White, tweeting, “Dana just make the fight happen.” White’s public reply twisted the knife: “But you left UFC Francis.”
The UFC former champion hit back, telling Jones on social media, “Your boss won’t make it happen,” making it clear who he felt was truly responsible for the failure.
Both fighters have since acknowledged the magnitude of the clash, agreeing it would have been “the best thing ever in the history of MMA around the world.” Yet, that perfect storm of timing and talent passed.
The final nail in the coffin came with the surprise announcement of Jon Jones’ retirement, shattering any lingering possibility of the super-fight.
In his absence, Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed king and will now face Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.
Gane, a man previously defeated by both Ngannou (for the undisputed title) and Jones (for the vacant title), is now the division’s gatekeeper, standing opposite the new era.
The Ngannou-Jones epic will only ever exist in the realm of “what if.”
