Jon Jones has claimed he may “need to try to focus on getting out” of his UFC contract, amid renewed talk of a fight with Francis Ngannou.
On Saturday, Jones joined Netflix’s punditry team to discuss Ngannou’s knockout of Philipe Lins, after the Cameroonian stopped the Brazilian in round one at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California.
The bout took place on the undercard of Ronda Rousey’s comeback to mixed martial arts (MMA) after a decade away, at an event organised by Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). Ngannou’s win saw him move to 2-0 in MMA since leaving the UFC in 2023, an exit that saw him vacate the UFC heavyweight title, which Jones won two months later.
Jones ultimately relinquished the belt last summer as he retired from MMA, yet the American has repeatedly teased a return to the cage. And a potential super-fight with Ngannou was put to the former light-heavyweight champion on Saturday.
“I’ve got to focus on trying to get out of my UFC contract,” Jones said. “That’s going to be the difficult part, if this fight is going to happen.
“I don’t think Dana [White, UFC CEO and president] is interested in doing business with Francis. Doing it with MVP would probably be the only way to make it happen. If we can get out my contract, that would be great.”
Still, Jones admitted: “I think I am [retired], I think I am. I have a really good agent, the Kawa brothers, and these guys keep me busy. I’m constantly on the road, creating my own businesses and endorsing other businesses.
“So, I feel like if things weren’t going so well, I’d feel the pressure to get back in the cage, but things are going so well on a professional level that I really have no reason to fight anymore.”
Ngannou’s UFC heavyweight title reign coincided with Jones’s absence from the UFC, as the latter focused on bulking up to transition from a light-heavyweight frame. Many fans accused Jones of actively avoiding a fight with Ngannou – who is widely considered the most-fearsome puncher in MMA history – especially given Jones returned to the UFC as soon as the Cameroonian left.
“Tonight he looked good,” Jones said on Saturday, “but he also fought against a guy that weighed like 220lb. That guy was afraid to engage with Francis. He definitely wasn’t on the same kickboxing level as Francis.
“[But] I thought Francis was very impressive tonight. He’s starting to throw kicks, he threw really nice high kicks tonight. I’m just excited to see what’s next for him.”
After leaving the UFC, Ngannou (19-3) fought once in the PFL, winning the promotion’s Super Fights heavyweight title in 2024. He did so by stopping Renan Ferreira in the first round.
The 39-year-old has also boxed twice since leaving the UFC. He a controversial decision to then-champion Tyson Fury in 2023 after dropping the Briton, before suffering a brutal KO defeat by Anthony Joshua in 2024.
Jones, 38, last fought in November 2024, stopping heavyweight great Stipe Miocic to retain the UFC heavyweight belt. Jones (28-1, 1 no-contest) then refused to face interim champion Tom Aspinall, ultimately giving up his title and leading Aspinall to be elevated to official champion.
