Former UFC champ Francis Ngannou understands Jon Jones‘s preference for a fight with Alex Pereira over Tom Aspinall, viewing it as a negotiation tactic and acknowledging that Jones has more to lose in terms of legacy, while Aspinall stands to gain significantly from such a matchup.
Fans of the UFC’s heavyweight division are itching for a championship unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. However, the former champ who gave up the title for greener pastures gets why Jones might prefer Alex Pereira instead.
Francis Ngannou, now shining in the PFL, weighed in on Jones’ apparent preference for the UFC light heavyweight champ over the interim heavyweight titleholder. “The Predator” suspects negotiation tactics are at play. Still, he thinks Jones has more to lose than gain legacy-wise.
“This is about negotiation,” Ngannou told TMZ. “We don’t know all the ins and outs. The UFC often plays that card—claiming someone’s scared to fight—to sway things. Jones is in a position to choose.”
“As he mentioned, ‘Aspinall needs that fight, I don’t need it.’ And honestly, it rings true.”
Ngannou and Jones were once linked to a potential mega-fight after Jones vacated his light heavyweight crown in 2020. But when “Bones” reportedly demanded “Deontay Wilder money”—around $30 million—negotiations hit a wall, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
Ultimately, Ngannou exited the UFC as the lineal champion on his own terms.
Since then, both fighters have shown mutual respect publicly. They’ve even congratulated each other after their wins over Renan Ferreira and Stipe Miocic.
If Jones skips fighting Aspinall, Ngannou won’t hold it against him.
“There’s nothing more for him in that fight except money,” Ngannou noted. “But for Aspinall, who’s trying to make his mark, it’s everything.”