Francis Ngannou has refused to rule out a future fight with Jon Jones, despite leaving the UFC earlier this year. The former heavyweight champion vacated his title after failing to agree a new contract with the promotion, paving the way for Jones to win the belt by submitting Ciryl Gane in March.
Speaking to TMZ Sports, Ngannou said: 'I will never shut the door to it [a fight with Jones]. I did everything in my position and in my power to try and make this fight move forward but it didn't work.' However, he acknowledged that the situation has become 'very personal' and that he is 'not sure this is a discussion we can have'.
Ngannou, who is now pursuing boxing bouts, cited financial dissatisfaction as a key reason for his UFC departure. He also suggested that Jones's long-term contract with the UFC makes a fight unlikely. 'That fight didn't happen and probably will never happen now that he's on a very long contract with the UFC,' Ngannou said on his YouTube channel.
Jones and UFC president Dana White have both criticised Ngannou's decision to leave, with White claiming Ngannou would have been beaten by Jones. Despite the animosity, Ngannou remains open to a potential showdown, whether inside or outside the UFC.
