Ngannou made the right choice and easiest to get money, but it's such a dumb decision. Not only did Ngannou not want a 3 fight contract, which was the shortest UFC would allow, but there is a possibility Ngannou would've KO'd Jones and left to PFL. He didn't want to have an exclusive contract.
Now if it was just an allowance for boxing, might have been different. But the HW division would've been just as fucked as Jones injury was, maybe more. Jones fight could've been 2 in a row as well for a rematch, then the 2 boxing matches. Aspinall would've been shafted hard as well.