Jon Jones has suggested he may need to leave the UFC to arrange a long-awaited super-fight with Francis Ngannou. Speaking during Ngannou’s first-round knockout of Philipe Lins on Saturday, Jones said: ‘I’ve got to focus on trying to get out of my UFC contract. That’s going to be the difficult part, if this fight is going to happen.’
The event, promoted by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), saw Ngannou improve to 2-0 in MMA since leaving the UFC in 2023. Jones, who won the vacant UFC heavyweight title two months after Ngannou’s departure, added: ‘I don’t think Dana [White] is interested in doing business with Francis. Doing it with MVP would probably be the only way to make it happen.’
Despite the call-out, Jones admitted he considers himself retired. ‘I think I am,’ he said. ‘Things are going so well on a professional level that I really have no reason to fight anymore.’ The 38-year-old last fought in November 2024, stopping Stipe Miocic before vacating the heavyweight belt rather than facing interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Ngannou, 39, has also boxed twice since leaving the UFC, controversially losing to Tyson Fury in 2023 and being knocked out by Anthony Joshua in 2024. Jones praised Ngannou’s performance on Saturday, noting his improved kicking game, but questioned the quality of his opponent.
