Jon Jones has taken on (and defeated) some of the word’s scariest fighters throughout his storied combat career, leading to one of the most impressive resumes in the history of mixed martial arts (MMA). So it makes you wonder why many are claiming “Bones” is afraid of newly crowned Heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou.
Sure, “The Predator” is without a doubt today’s hardest striker in the game — perhaps in the history of the sport — and trading punches with him isn’t something someone is jumping for joy about. But Jones has been there and done that, so to suggest that the pound-for-pound best fighter in MMA is shivering in his boots is laughable.
But yet, here we are.
One man who is laughing off such claims is none other than Jones’ biggest rival, Daniel Cormier. Indeed, “D.C” says its absurd to think that the former Light Heavyweight champion is trying to avoid a fight against Ngannou.
“Jon Jones, for everything that is between us, is not afraid of Francis Ngannou,” said the former “champ-champ” during a recent edition of the “D.C. and Helwani” podcast on ESPN. ‘This is absurd that people think that.”
“Jon Jones is one of the most talented guys I have seen inside the Octagon and if you have to find someone who can piece together a way to solve the Francis Ngannou puzzle, it is Jon Jones,” he added.
Jones has two wins over Cormier, though one was overturned to a “No Contest” after “Bones” failed multiple post-fight drug tests.
After “The Predator” knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 to claim the Heavyweight crown (see it again here), Jones caused up quite a stir after he posted on social media that the only way he would face Ngannou in his first fight as a Heavyweight would be if the promotion paid him his worth.
While Jones didn’t lay out his financial terms, UFC President Dana White once stated that his former 205-pound champion was looking for “Deontay Wilder money,” which would signify several millions of dollars. Speaking of White, he didn’t seem too thrilled with Jones’ tweets post-fight, saying that if “Bones” didn’t want the fight there are several other big men ready to take it.
This is just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga between Jones, White and UFC in general which has seen the sides be hot and cold with one another over the last few years. Hopefully they can come to an agreement to make this fight happen which will undoubtedly be one of the biggest the promotion has put together.
Just don’t bank on a “Bones” knockout if it does.