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MMA fans are clamoring for a Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou megafight … but Dana White says there’s nothing to see there, ’cause the new heavyweight champ would’ve demolished “The Predator” much like he did Ciryl Gane last weekend!
The UFC president joined Babcock on the TMZ Sports TV show (airs weeknights on FS1) … when White was asked if he could foresee any situation where he’d welcome Ngannou back to the UFC and make the Francis-Jon fight.
“I’m not interested,” Dana said.
“I tried to make that fight for two years. He didn’t want the fight. Know what I mean? He didn’t want the fight, and he left here without even having another deal in place. And, I know how the boxing world is, it’s crazy, but Francis didn’t want to [fight Jones].”
Don’t be too disappointed … White says Francis almost certainly would’ve been easy work for the G.O.A.T.
“Let me tell you what, I think, a lot of other people feel this way, I think that’s exactly the way the fight would’ve gone if [Ngannou] was in there, too.”
Of course, Jon made Ciryl look like light work at UFC 285 … taking him down and forcing a tap out in a shade over 2 minutes.
Dana, using some MMA math, explained why Ngannou wouldn’t have stood much of a chance.
“[Francis] and Ciryl had a five-round war, and if Ciryl doesn’t go for that submission, Ciryl probably wins that fight. At the end of the 5th round there.”
FYI, Ngannou won their UFC 270 scrap in January 2022 by unanimous decision, but it was a very close fight.
Dana then answered the original question — can you see yourself making JJ vs. FN?
“No.”
We also talked to White about the next big heavyweight matchup, Stipe Miocic vs. Jones. There’s talk the fight will go down at UFC 290 on July 8 during International Fight Week, but Dana says nothing’s set in stone, and there’s not much time to get a deal done.
Dana also said he wouldn’t be surprised if this is 35-year-old Jones’ last fight.
“I wouldn’t be shocked either if he fights Stipe and then retires.”
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We also talked to Dana about his upcoming Power Slap 1 event, going down Saturday night in Las Vegas. The card features four title fights … including the two top-ranked heavyweights in the world.
White says he sees parallels between Power Slap/slap fighting and the UFC in its early days, when MMA was viewed as being brutal and too violent.
Dana also broke some news about the future of “Power Slap: Road To The Title,” announcing they’ve signed a two-year deal. White says the next season will take place in Dubai.
Power Slap 1 will stream on Rumble!