David Berding-USA TODAY Sports
Heavyweight contender Francis Ngannou is not going to fight light heavyweight champion Jon Jones for the same money he received for competing against Jairzinho Rozenstruick because “Bones” is the consensus No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world and “hazard pay” is a real thing.
It’s not about whether or not “The Predator” thinks he can win, it’s about getting compensated for a job that is A) far more dangerous and B) far more profitable for the promotion. There is a reason Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik didn’t headline UFC 249.
But you can bet your bottom dollar Ngannou vs. Jones would top one of the promotion’s marquee pay-per-view (PPV) events, typically held in July and December. Is it acceptable for UFC to make triple the return while the actual fighters who are inside the cage trying to kill each other get their standard rates?
“No no, fuck no, fuck no,” Ngannou told Ariel Helwani. “What are you talking about? No, be clear, be sure about that. That’s not happening.”
Ngannou has been asking for a potential Jones fight for quite some time and it seems “Bones” finally came around for it, but since UFC isn’t willing to spend the money, Ngannou will have to wait for the winner of Stipe Miocic vs. Daniel Cormier 3 while Jones contemplates a not-exciting Jan Blachowicz light heavyweight title fight.
Will fans shell out $64.99 for a Jones-Blachowicz PPV event?
“No no, fuck no, fuck no,” the MMA community told UFC. “What are you talking about? No, be clear, be sure about that. That’s not happening.”