In a recent turn of events, the much-anticipated staredown between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou turned out to be nothing more than an enticing but ultimately unfulfilling moment. Last week, the Professional Fighters League (PFL) struck gold by having the two top heavyweights in the same vicinity. Ngannou, the newly signed former UFC champion, traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, to attend week five of the PFL’s regular season, while Jones, the current UFC title holder, cornered his teammate Maurice Greene.
Regrettably for Jones and his team, Greene fell short in the evening’s main event against former PFL champion Ante Delija, losing via a unanimous decision. However, the real story of the weekend unfolded after the event, as Jones made his way over to Ngannou’s side at the cage, creating a long-awaited faceoff that fans had been dreaming of since 2020. Daniel Cormier, a former rival of Jones, was among those captivated by the encounter and noticed a familiar dynamic playing out.
Cormier shared his thoughts on the DC & RC show, stating, “It’s a big deal but it kind of sucks. It just reminds us that it won’t happen because now that Francis is gone, there’s no way it could ever work. There’s no way it could ever be cross-promoted to make it happen.”
He went on to highlight a particular moment during the faceoff, observing the shift in Ngannou’s demeanor when confronted by Jones. Cormier said, “Here’s one thing I took from that honestly: I watched them come up to each other, and Francis ain’t afraid of nobody. He’s one of the baddest men on the planet. But as Jon’s grabbing him, touching his arm, and he’s talking to him, something changes in him whenever they’re face-to-face. When Francis starts talking about being the king of the world, Jon said, ‘I’ve always been the king. I’ve always been the best.’ When you look at his facial expression, I’ve seen that before.”
Cormier drew parallels between his own interactions with Jones and what he witnessed during the faceoff, emphasizing their shared conviction that each is the best. He concluded, “It showed me in that moment that Jon Jones ain’t afraid of Francis Ngannou. Not at all.”
Given the history between Jones and Cormier, which resulted in two notable matches and plenty of outside-the-cage drama, this encounter between Jones and Ngannou was the closest the MMA world will ever get to witnessing a fight between the two. Fans were made to wait for an extended period to see Jones and Cormier face off, with the memorable stage-toppling incident during a pre-fight staredown further adding to the anticipation.
Ultimately, while the Jones-Ngannou faceoff may have disappointed fans, it served as a reminder of the unlikelihood of a future fight between the two. The rivalry between Jones and Cormier remains one of the greatest in MMA history, and their encounters showcased the intense emotions and competitive spirit shared by both fighters.
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