Francis Ngannou: Jon Jones fight was never real, just ‘bait’ for UFC negotiation

Francis Ngannou has claimed that a potential fight with Jon Jones was never genuinely pursued by the UFC, describing it as mere 'bait' used during contract negotiations. Ngannou, who held the UFC heavyweight championship from March 2021 to January 2023, says the matchup was a hot topic during his reign but believes the promotion was never serious about making it happen. Despite his doubts about the UFC's intentions, Ngannou has stated he remains interested in fighting Jones.