Jon Jones, Francis Ngannou Have Face-to-Face Encounter at PFL 5

We told you that tonight could get interesting 👀

The faceoff that you all were waiting for #PFLRegularSeason pic.twitter.com/lLonBECFUY

— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 17, 2023

It’s probably the closest Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou will get to a confrontation for the foreseeable future.

The heavyweight stars came face-to-face on Friday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. Jones was at the venue to corner training partner Maurice Greene, who lost a decision to Ante Delija in the PFL 5 main event. Ngannou, meanwhile, was on hand after recently signing with PFL as a highly-coveted free agent.

During the interaction, Jones can be heard telling Ngannou, “You don’t want no smoke” but the conversation appeared to be mostly cordial, and the fighters shook hands multiple times. Ngannou parted ways with the UFC earlier this year when he was unable to come to terms with the promotion for a new contract after his existing deal expired. Jones subsequently captured the vacant heavyweight crown with a first-round submission of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March.

During an interview on the ESPN broadcast prior to his cageside meeting with Ngannou, Jones said there was no real beef with “The Predator” since a fight between the two is unlikely.

“I’ve met Francis before, he’s a sweetheart of a guy,” Jones said. “Outside of the fight game, he’s a pretty respectful guy. I can be pretty respectful as well. I’m looking forward to seeing the brother and giving him some knuckles.

“… If we’re not fighting, there’s no reason to have a bunch of beef, especially when we see each other in person. It’s cool to talk trash and keep the fans excited and stuff like that, but if there’s no fight contract, we’re bros at the end of the day.”

Ngannou isn’t expected to make his PFL debut until some time in 2024 as he pursues fights in professional boxing. Meanwhile, Jones’ next title defense has been targeted for November against Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden, but that matchup is far from official. What’s clear is that with Ngannou gone from the UFC, one of the biggest fights in promotion history is probably going to wind up as a permanent “What if?” That didn’t stop Jones from offering his take on who the deserves the top spot as the proverbial “Baddest Man on the Planet.”

“I know that I’m badder than him,” Jones said. “So, I don’t have to give him any weird looks or whatever. He’s big muscles, he’s a very impressive-looking figure, but when it comes to this fight game, it’s my whole world and I know who I am.”

Jon Jones talks Francis Ngannou.pic.twitter.com/KwatVRflSe#PFL5

— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) June 17, 2023