Francis Ngannou: Fighting Ciryl Gane is ‘not the same thing’ as fighting Jon Jones.
Francis Ngannou is excited about his upcoming matchup with Ciryl Gane, but the UFC heavyweight champion admits that it’s ‘not on the level of a Jon Jones fight’.
“Not particularly,” Ngannou told MMA Fighting’s Ariel Helwani when asked whether the Gane matchup was as exciting as a potential Jones super-fight. “But it’s a good fight. You have to be aware of the danger of any fight, so it’s a fight, he’s a good opponent, but not on the level of a Jon Jones fight for example if that’s what you’re asking. It’s not the same thing.”
Ngannou and Jones both had a mutual interest in a heavyweight matchup following the former’s acquisition of the heavyweight title at UFC 260, but Dana White wasn’t so keen on the idea.
Now, with Jones facing more legal troubles following his recent arrest for misdemeanor domestic battery, Ngannou isn’t sure the bout will ever come to fruition.
“At this point, I don’t know much about what will happen in the future,” Ngannou said. “I don’t stress about that. What will happen will happen. I wish that fight will happen, but I’m not sure about it anymore. It will be okay. There are so many good fights out there if everything goes right, there’s so many fights that you can do and would be a good fight, so let everything go.”
Ngannou, who is fresh off a career-defining knockout win over Stipe Miocic, will take on Gane — the current interim champ — in a heavyweight title unification bout at UFC 270. The PPV is scheduled to take place on Jan. 22 at a TBA location.