UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones said he wanted to fight former division champion Francis Ngannou, but wasn't too upset when the latter left the promotion.
People are saying that I waited three years and I came back exactly when Francis was gone. That’s actually not true. When I got back, Francis was very much on the roster still and I could have been his last fight, but instead he opted out and Ciryl Gane took Francis’ spot. I’m not going to lie though, knowing that I was fighting Ciryl Gane instead of Francis was kind of nice. [Laughs]. Francis is a scary joker.
Jon Jones
Recall, on November 11 in the main event of UFC 295 in New York (USA) Jones will make his title defense against Stipe Miocic.
Jones last went into the octagon against Ciryl Gane in March of this year at UFC 285. That fight ended in favor of Jones with a choking submission in the first round. Thus, he won the championship belt in the heavyweight category. He has 27 wins and one defeat.
Miocic has not stepped into the octagon since March 2021. His last fight took place at UFC 260, where Stipe lost by knockout in the second round to Francis Ngannou. The American has 20 wins and four losses.