Francis Ngannou hasn’t forgotten about the fight that never happened — and he believes the UFC White House event would be the perfect stage for it.
Speaking with TMZ Sports, the former UFC heavyweight champion was asked about what would be a bigger draw at the anticipated card in Washington, D.C. — Jon Jones vs. Alex Pereira or the long-awaited showdown between Jones and himself.
Ngannou smiled and replied confidently:
“You know the answer, you don’t need me for that,” Ngannou said. “Should I answer? Do you really need me to answer?”
Jones’ return talk sparks new interest
Jon Jones, who fought Stipe Miocic in late 2024 before announcing his retirement earlier this year, has recently hinted that he might come back for one more fight — potentially at the White House card rumored for mid-2026. Reports suggest he’s targeting Alex Pereira, but Ngannou believes there’s only one matchup that would truly define the era.
“Biggest fight of all-time can only happen with Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou,” Ngannou said. “That’s all what I can say about that. No disrespect to other fights or other fighters. I respect all of the fights and all of the fighters, regardless if the fight is on the main card, or prelim, whatever or wherever.”
The 39-year-old powerhouse from Cameroon hasn’t competed in the UFC since his unanimous decision win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 260, where he unified the heavyweight title. After a contract dispute with the organization, Ngannou became a free agent in 2023 and later signed with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
He made his promotional debut in October 2024, earning a devastating victory over Renan Ferreira in his only PFL appearance so far. Ngannou has also been exploring boxing, but he maintains that his rivalry with Jones remains unfinished business.
“It’s not about where, it’s about what’s at stake”
Ngannou emphasized that location doesn’t define greatness — the stakes do. He recalled how he captured the UFC title inside the quiet UFC Apex, proving that even without a crowd, the moment can be historic.
“I became a world champion in the APEX with no crowd, so I respect fights and fighters,” he said. “It’s not about the place, but if you want to say biggest of all-time, you make it biggest.”
A potential clash between Ngannou and Jones has been one of the most talked-about matchups in combat sports history. The fight fell through in 2022 amid contract disputes and timing issues, but both men have expressed interest in the idea over the years.
As talk grows about the UFC’s first-ever event at the White House, the prospect of Jones vs. Ngannou — two of the most physically dominant champions in MMA history — could be too monumental for the promotion to ignore.
“I think great fights happen everywhere,” Ngannou said. “But if you want to talk about the biggest one, that’s me and Jon Jones. No disrespect — just facts.”
