Jon Jones has indicated he may need to exit his UFC contract to facilitate a potential fight with Francis Ngannou, suggesting that UFC CEO Dana White is unlikely to engage in business with Ngannou, making a deal with Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions the only viable option. Jones made these comments while on punditry duty for Netflix, where he observed Ngannou's first-round knockout victory over Philipe Lins at an event organised by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions on Saturday.
Despite teasing a return, Jones, who retired from MMA last summer after relinquishing the UFC heavyweight title, stated he feels no pressure to fight due to his successful business ventures and endorsements. Ngannou's win against Lins marked his second MMA victory since departing the UFC in 2023, following a PFL win, and he has also competed in two boxing matches, including a controversial decision loss to Tyson Fury and a knockout defeat by Anthony Joshua. Jones, who last fought in November 2024 to retain the UFC heavyweight belt before refusing to face interim champion Tom Aspinall and ultimately giving up his title, acknowledged Ngannou's impressive performance against Lins, noting his improved kickboxing.
In full, Jones stated: "I think I've got to focus on getting out of my UFC contract if I want to make that fight happen. Dana doesn't seem interested in doing business with Francis, so maybe Jake Paul's promotion is the way to go."
