Jon Jones believes a UFC return for Francis Ngannou isn’t off the table, despite UFC CEO Dana White recently dismissing the idea.
Ngannou left the UFC in 2023 after failed contract negotiations, exiting as the reigning heavyweight champion before signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
White, when asked about a potential reunion with Ngannou, replied with a brief “Probably not.”
Jones, however, thinks otherwise.
“I think Dana gets things done,” Jones said on the Full Send Podcast. “I think business speaks before emotions. If Francis presents himself in a humble way, I think that he could very easily be back in the UFC.”
Ngannou and White’s split was far from cordial, but Jones argued that time and opportunity have a way of reshaping relationships — even those with deep fractures.
“Dana White is one of the best sports minds in recent history for a reason, and money talks,” said Jones.
“Francis brings eyes, and I’m sure Dana will be interested. He can be stubborn. I think I’m an example. People grow and mature, and time changes things. There were moments in my career where I felt like Dana absolutely hated me. Now I feel he’s a big advocator for me,” he added.
Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC), the current heavyweight champion, has shown little interest in a unification bout with interim champ Tom Aspinall.
But a long-hyped showdown with Ngannou remains a fight fans and fighters alike continue to speculate on.
Whether White and Ngannou can find common ground remains uncertain. But for Jones, the door is still open — and business, as always in combat sports, could come first.
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