Video: Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones Share Heated Face-Off at PFL Event

Video: Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones Share Heated Face-Off at PFL Event

Isaac Darko
updated at June 17, 2023 at 7:10 PM
  • Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou have finally come face-to-face
  • The pair were both in attendance at PFL 5
  • Jones and Ngannou kept things in good spirits

Top heavyweight fighters Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones finally came face-to-face for the first time since their UFC showdown fell apart.

The pair were both spotted at PFL 5 on Friday night in Atlanta, and they approached each other.

It seemed to be a friendly encounter, and as soon as the men came together, Jones started sizing up Ngannou before the pair shook hands.

Francis Ngannou, Jon Jones, UFC, PFL
Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou kept things in good spirits. Credit: @espnmma
Source: Twitter

According to Talk Sports, both fighters then acknowledged the mutual respect between one another before Ngannou called for them to fight each other.

It was the first time they have been in the same room since Ngannou sensationally left the UFC and allowed Jones to fight for the vacant world title, with the pair sharing a heated exchange that was relatively cordial.

Ngannou won 12 of his 14 fights in the UFC, becoming champion in 2021, while Jones, who is widely regarded as the best mixed martial artist of all time, has lost only once during his 29-fight, 15-year career.

The UFC has been working to set up a bout between Jones and former champion Stipe Miocic later in the year.

Ngannou will also officially become the chairman of PFL Africa as part of the deal. The Predator will also compete in the Superfight division and is expected to debut in 2024.

What is the PFL?

The Professional Fighters League or PFL is an MMA organisation with a difference.

As noted by the company's website, fighters compete in a regular season, playoffs, and championship, much like other sports. The promotion features six weight classes, with each athlete having two fights during the PFL Regular Season.

They then earn regular season points based on their performance during the bout. Fighters are seeded in their weight class according to the points and then compete in the single-elimination PFL Playoffs, which leads to the PFL World Championship.

Ngannou stripped of UFC title

Sports Brief earlier reported how Francis 'The Predator' Ngannou is no longer the UFC Heavyweight Champion.

The Cameroon national has not fought in the Octagon since he defended the title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022.

The Predator was released by the UFC after they could not agree on a new deal with the Cameroon native.

Authors
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Isaac Darko
Isaac Darko is a La Liga, Ligue 1 and Bundesliga editor at Sports Brief with a Degree in Journalism and Communications from Ghana Institute of Journalism (2010)
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