Just say you concede, he is right. About the match up between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou in an MMA fight has sparked intense debate within the MMA community, driven by their contrasting styles and dominance in the UFC. Although the fight never materialized due to contractual disputes, Ngannou’s exit from the UFC, and promotional barriers, many analysts, fighters, and fans believe Jon Jones would hold the edge. Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters ever, possesses an exceptional fight IQ and a versatile skill set that allows him to adapt to any opponent’s strengths and exploit their weaknesses. Against Ngannou, known for his devastating knockout power, Jones would likely employ a strategic game plan to avoid direct exchanges, utilizing his diverse arsenal of striking, wrestling, clinch work, and submissions to control the fight’s pace and location. His ability to adapt has been proven against elite opponents like Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, Dominick Reyes, and Stipe Miocic, where he tailored his approach to secure victories, such as his dominant performance against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, suggesting he could handle Ngannou’s power by keeping the fight at range or on the ground.
A key factor in Jones’ favor is his superior wrestling and grappling, areas where Ngannou has historically shown vulnerability. While Ngannou has improved his takedown defense, as seen in his rematch against Miocic and his fight with Gane, Jones’ wrestling pedigree and grappling expertise are unmatched. He has consistently used takedowns to dominate elite fighters, like his third-round finish of Miocic at UFC 309. Analysts like Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier have argued that Jones would likely take Ngannou down and control him on the ground, where Ngannou’s power is less effective. Sonnen has stated that Jones would “pick that big man apart,” emphasizing his ability to exploit Ngannou’s size and relative grappling inexperience. Cormier highlighted Jones’ wrestling dominance over Miocic as a blueprint for how he could neutralize Ngannou. An AI-driven analysis further supports this, suggesting Jones would use clinch work and takedowns to sap Ngannou’s energy, potentially finishing with a submission like an arm triangle or rear-naked choke by the fourth round.
Another advantage for Jones lies in Ngannou’s stamina concerns. Ngannou’s fights often end quickly due to his knockout power, but when extended, his energy levels have faltered. In his first fight against Miocic at UFC 220, Ngannou gassed out after the first round, leading to a unanimous decision loss. Similarly, against Gane, he showed signs of fatigue in later rounds, relying heavily on grappling. Jones, conversely, excels in longer fights, using his cardio and pacing to wear down opponents. By surviving Ngannou’s early onslaught, Jones could capitalize on Ngannou’s fading stamina in later rounds, securing a late finish or a decision victory. Jones’ striking, while less powerful than Ngannou’s, is more technical and varied, leveraging his 84.5-inch reach, oblique kicks, and sidekicks to control distance and frustrate opponents, as seen in fights against Gustafsson and Reyes. Against Gane, Jones used leg kicks and clinch work to safely close the distance, a strategy that could keep Ngannou’s power at bay.
Jones’ extensive experience against elite competition further tilts the scales. His resume boasts victories over multiple champions across two weight classes, showcasing his ability to handle diverse challenges, from wrestlers like Cormier to strikers like Gustafsson. Ngannou, while dominant, has faced fewer grapplers or tacticians of Jones’ caliber. Even though Ngannou has made strides in wrestling and fight IQ, as evidenced by his takedown defense against Miocic and Gane, Jones has also evolved, transitioning seamlessly to heavyweight and showcasing enhanced wrestling and submission skills against Gane and Miocic. This evolution suggests Jones could outpace Ngannou’s improvements, maintaining his technical edge.
Jones’ desire to fight Ngannou was evident through his public statements and actions. He repeatedly expressed eagerness to face Ngannou, viewing it as a legacy-defining superfight. In a 2024 interview during a PFL vs. Bellator event, Jones called the matchup “really massive,” predicting victories over Ngannou, Miocic, and Tom Aspinall. In June 2025, he responded to Ngannou’s coach suggesting a UFC return, tweeting that it would be a “real super fight” and a “clash of champions.” Jones’ history of seeking the toughest challenges, having cleared the light heavyweight division before moving to heavyweight, underscores his willingness to face Ngannou. Claims that Jones avoided the fight are refuted by both fighters, with Ngannou stating, “I think we both were asking for it,” blaming the UFC’s contractual and promotional issues. Jones noted the UFC’s $8-10 million offer was insufficient for the risk, but he remained open to the fight, especially with interest from figures like Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh for a cross-promotional event.
Despite Jones’ advantages, Ngannou’s strengths pose a real threat. His unparalleled knockout power, seen in finishes of Miocic, Overeem, and Renan Ferreira, could end the fight with one clean shot, especially given Jones’ occasional vulnerability to strikes, as seen against Gustafsson and Reyes. Ngannou’s improved wrestling and ability to take down Gane and Miocic show he’s not helpless on the ground, and his size and strength could challenge Jones, who is lighter for a heavyweight. However, Jones’ ability to avoid prolonged striking exchanges, combined with his superior grappling and track record against top-tier opponents, makes him the likely victor. The fight’s failure to materialize stems from UFC’s promotional decisions and Ngannou’s departure to the PFL and boxing, not a lack of interest from either fighter. Jones’ respect for Ngannou’s PFL debut knockout in October 2024 and his confident retort to fans claiming Ngannou would “smoke” him further highlight his eagerness to settle the debate in the cage.
The hypothetical matchup between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou in an MMA fight has sparked intense debate within the MMA community, driven by their contrasting styles and dominance in the UFC. Although the fight never materialized due to contractual disputes, Ngannou’s exit from the UFC, and promotional barriers, many analysts, fighters, and fans believe Jon Jones would hold the edge. Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest MMA fighters ever, possesses an exceptional fight IQ and a versatile skill set that allows him to adapt to any opponent’s strengths and exploit their weaknesses. Against Ngannou, known for his devastating knockout power, Jones would likely employ a strategic game plan to avoid direct exchanges, utilizing his diverse arsenal of striking, wrestling, clinch work, and submissions to control the fight’s pace and location. His ability to adapt has been proven against elite opponents like Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, Dominick Reyes, and Stipe Miocic, where he tailored his approach to secure victories, such as his dominant performance against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, suggesting he could handle Ngannou’s power by keeping the fight at range or on the ground.
A key factor in Jones’ favor is his superior wrestling and grappling, areas where Ngannou has historically shown vulnerability. While Ngannou has improved his takedown defense, as seen in his rematch against Miocic and his fight with Gane, Jones’ wrestling pedigree and grappling expertise are unmatched. He has consistently used takedowns to dominate elite fighters, like his third-round finish of Miocic at UFC 309. Analysts like Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier have argued that Jones would likely take Ngannou down and control him on the ground, where Ngannou’s power is less effective. Sonnen has stated that Jones would “pick that big man apart,” emphasizing his ability to exploit Ngannou’s size and relative grappling inexperience. Cormier highlighted Jones’ wrestling dominance over Miocic as a blueprint for how he could neutralize Ngannou. An AI-driven analysis further supports this, suggesting Jones would use clinch work and takedowns to sap Ngannou’s energy, potentially finishing with a submission like an arm triangle or rear-naked choke by the fourth round.
Another advantage for Jones lies in Ngannou’s stamina concerns. Ngannou’s fights often end quickly due to his knockout power, but when extended, his energy levels have faltered. In his first fight against Miocic at UFC 220, Ngannou gassed out after the first round, leading to a unanimous decision loss. Similarly, against Gane, he showed signs of fatigue in later rounds, relying heavily on grappling. Jones, conversely, excels in longer fights, using his cardio and pacing to wear down opponents. By surviving Ngannou’s early onslaught, Jones could capitalize on Ngannou’s fading stamina in later rounds, securing a late finish or a decision victory. Jones’ striking, while less powerful than Ngannou’s, is more technical and varied, leveraging his 84.5-inch reach, oblique kicks, and sidekicks to control distance and frustrate opponents, as seen in fights against Gustafsson and Reyes. Against Gane, Jones used leg kicks and clinch work to safely close the distance, a strategy that could keep Ngannou’s power at bay.
Jones’ extensive experience against elite competition further tilts the scales. His resume boasts victories over multiple champions across two weight classes, showcasing his ability to handle diverse challenges, from wrestlers like Cormier to strikers like Gustafsson. Ngannou, while dominant, has faced fewer grapplers or tacticians of Jones’ caliber. Even though Ngannou has made strides in wrestling and fight IQ, as evidenced by his takedown defense against Miocic and Gane, Jones has also evolved, transitioning seamlessly to heavyweight and showcasing enhanced wrestling and submission skills against Gane and Miocic. This evolution suggests Jones could outpace Ngannou’s improvements, maintaining his technical edge.
Jones’ desire to fight Ngannou was evident through his public statements and actions. He repeatedly expressed eagerness to face Ngannou, viewing it as a legacy-defining superfight. In a 2024 interview during a PFL vs. Bellator event, Jones called the matchup “really massive,” predicting victories over Ngannou, Miocic, and Tom Aspinall. In June 2025, he responded to Ngannou’s coach suggesting a UFC return, tweeting that it would be a “real super fight” and a “clash of champions.” Jones’ history of seeking the toughest challenges, having cleared the light heavyweight division before moving to heavyweight, underscores his willingness to face Ngannou. Claims that Jones avoided the fight are refuted by both fighters, with Ngannou stating, “I think we both were asking for it,” blaming the UFC’s contractual and promotional issues. Jones noted the UFC’s $8-10 million offer was insufficient for the risk, but he remained open to the fight, especially with interest from figures like Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh for a cross-promotional event.
Despite Jones’ advantages, Ngannou’s strengths pose a real threat. His unparalleled knockout power, seen in finishes of Miocic, Overeem, and Renan Ferreira, could end the fight with one clean shot, especially given Jones’ occasional vulnerability to strikes, as seen against Gustafsson and Reyes. Ngannou’s improved wrestling and ability to take down Gane and Miocic show he’s not helpless on the ground, and his size and strength could challenge Jones, who is lighter for a heavyweight. However, Jones’ ability to avoid prolonged striking exchanges, combined with his superior grappling and track record against top-tier opponents, makes him the likely victor. The fight’s failure to materialize stems from UFC’s promotional decisions and Ngannou’s departure to the PFL and boxing, not a lack of interest from either fighter. Jones’ respect for Ngannou’s PFL debut knockout in October 2024 and his confident retort to fans claiming Ngannou would “smoke” him further highlight his eagerness to settle the debate in the cage.
