“The Predator” just shared an interesting prediction for UFC 309, which takes place next month (Sat., Nov. 16, 2024) inside Madison Square Garden in New York City
Francis Ngannou makes his highly anticipated return to mixed martial arts (MMA) this weekend (Sat., Oct. 19, 2024) against Brazilian giant, Renan Ferreira, headlining PFL Super Fights: “Battle of the Giants,” which will take place inside Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the man everyone wanted Ngannou to fight while he was with Ultimate Fighting Champion (UFC), Jon Jones, is fighting next month (Nov. 16) at UFC 309 against Stipe Miocic, and Ngannou just shared his thoughts on the long-overdue legacy fight.
“Stipe hasn’t fought for three years — since we last fought,” Ngannou told Ariel Helwani. “So, I don’t really know where he’s at, I don’t know how he’s going to show up. I know he always shows up good, but it’s been awhile and he’s not getting younger.
“All of those questions make me shift slightly to the Jones side, even though I feel the fight is half-half [50-50],” Ngannou continued. “Stipe is a guy who is very committed when he shows up — he shows up in-full. So, if he shows up in-full, he can really surprise you, right? I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins.”
Ngannou has a history with both Jones and Miocic, but in very different ways. “The Predator” went 1-1 with Miocic, losing to him at UFC 220 (Jan. 2018), but then knocked him out in 2021 at UFC 260 to claim UFC’s Heavyweight crown.
With Jones, the pair circled each other in early 2020, but the promotion could not match either fighters’ salary demands. After some back-and-forth on social media for a couple of years, Ngannou exited UFC to make “life-changing money” in boxing (not just his, either).
While Ngannou is leaning slightly toward “Bones,” the oddsmakers have Jones as a sizeable betting favorite over Miocic (-410) in “The Big Apple.”
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