Again...get your facts straight.Jones couldn't FORCE Francis to fight (during his brief 130 day championship reign) without Francis agreeing to sign a contract. Francis ultimately decided after getting offered the highest pay ever (with zero title defences) to quit the UFC.
The ONLY fight Jones states he would take at HW was for the belt. Francis had the belt, then turned down the highest pay ever to fight Jones and quit.
Jones only option was to fight the #1/Interim champ.
Jones COULD absolutely force Francis to fight because after beating Stipe in 2021, he still was under contract for more than 18months, was calling for that fight, and Dana White had publicly announced Jones would fight the winner of Stipe vs Francis. There was zero obstacle, both fighters were under contract, the only problem was Jones wanting much more than 10 millions.
And the 130 days championship reign? It is 658 days and with more title defenses than Jones at HW.
Ngannou was UFC HW champion from March 37th 2021 to January 14th 2023.