PFL Chairman Donn Davis believes a superfight between Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones is possible despite the challenges, citing potential financial incentives and influential figures like Turki Alalshikh who could facilitate such a high-profile event.
Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones? It might not be on the horizon, but it’s still in the realm of possibility, according to PFL Chairman Donn Davis.
Ngannou made a triumphant return to MMA last weekend, taking down Renan Ferreira at the PFL Superfights: Battle of the Giants. This marked his debut fight for the PFL and catapulted “The Predator” to No. 2 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings for heavyweight. The victory reignited discussions about the long-dreamed Ngannou vs. Jon Jones superfight—once a fantasy, now perhaps less so.
“I’m an optimistic guy,” Davis shared with MMA Fighting during a Wednesday Town Hall. “From a business perspective, I’m a realist, but I remain hopeful. Even Jon Jones’s tweets caught my eye… It’s different now than it was over the past three years.”
“For me, I’m a can-do optimist,” he continued. “It hasn’t happened yet, but who knows what the future holds?”
Ngannou and Jones teased fans with potential matchups for over a year when they were both under UFC’s banner. However, Ngannou left in 2023 for the PFL, while Jones ascended to heavyweight and clinched the vacant UFC title by defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.
Despite being in separate promotions now, their rivalry remains alive. They even had an unexpected face-off at a PFL event last year. While UFC CEO Dana White is firmly against co-promotion, Davis believes there’s more hope than many assume.
“If you asked me to bet on it at even odds? No,” Davis stated. “But four to one? I’d take that bet. So is it possible? Yes. Likely? No.”
Davis argues that since it’s potentially the biggest MMA fight of this decade—or maybe ever—that’s why it’s conceivable. Sometimes people decide to make things happen against all odds.
While a UFC-PFL collaboration seems improbable, money can always change things. Dana White has opposed crossovers into boxing but let Conor McGregor fight Floyd Mayweather in one of the year’s biggest events.
Davis hints something similar could unfold here, especially with Turki Alalshikh involved. As Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, Alalshikh has invested heavily in combat sports and has relationships with both promotions.
“I respect Dana immensely,” Davis remarked. “He built this industry. Would he want to be part of the biggest fight in 10 years? Turki is pivotal in combat sports; he could make it happen.”
In essence, Davis sees himself as just another player in this grand scenario where Turki and Dana are key figures—the ones who could turn this dream matchup into reality.