Francis Ngannou and Renan Ferreira got here face-to-face for the primary time earlier at this time (Thurs., Aug. 22, 2024) on the particular pre-fight press convention in Washington D.C. to advertise their upcoming “tremendous battle” on Oct. 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Ngannou
See the staredown between the 2 heavy-hitters right here.
In the course of the presser, Ferreira declared that this bout would decide who one of the best heavyweight on the planet is, together with present Final Preventing heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, and interim title holder, Tom Aspinall. In the meantime, Ngannou is adamant he was the as soon as asking for a showdown towards “Bones,” regardless of Dana White usually claiming “The Predator” needed no a part of Jones.
“That’s the brand new narrative as a result of he must say one thing both approach. However so far as I’m involved, he was saying to me Jon Jones didn’t wish to battle with me, based on them,” stated Jones. “So many occasions that we sat down with them within the conferences they’d say, ‘It gained’t occur, Jon Jones doesn’t wish to battle anymore. He lives in Albuquerque, easy life, some huge cash in his financial institution.’ So, the man that controls the narrative, he can say no matter he desires,” added Ngannou.
“However that’s not the narrative. I used to be the one asking for the Jon Jones battle. However I didn’t need it to be like a lure to get into some deal, get into one thing that I didn’t need, you already know. I needed it to be straight and sq.. I needed to battle Jon Jones on good circumstances, not simply to battle.”
And that was an enormous theme of the presser, as a result of Jake Paul additionally took the possibility to slam UFC CEO, Dana White, for not placing his cash the place his mouth is and permitting his large males to face off towards PFL’s finest.
“I feel Dana is scared to make it occur. I feel he doesn’t wish to lose his horse in Jon Jones. I really like Jon Jones however that’s an excessive amount of of a threat for Dana to take. Francis is among the baddest, if not the baddest man on the planet. I feel Dana is scared and he doesn’t wish to try this. MMA followers need that, however Dana by no means does something for the followers,” added Paul earlier than saying if Ferreira defeats Ngannou, then he could be one of the best large man within the sport, not Jones.
“It might be an enormous upset. That would occur in fight sports activities. That’s what makes this battle thrilling, Ferreira is an insane competitor. He would grow to be the person. He would grow to be one of the best heavyweight in MMA, however at present Francis Ngannou is the person to beat.”
In case you recall, Jones crashed the published throughout the “PFL vs. Bellator” occasion earlier this yr in Riyadh, sending a message to “The Predator” figuring out good and properly a battle between them was now not within the working. Nonetheless, “Bones” was given the platform to name out the promotion’s greatest star.
Certainly, Jones’ large shadow was as soon as once more current throughout at this time’s PFL presser, which appears to be the norm as a result of regardless of having just one win — albeit an enormous one — as a heavyweight, he’s thought of by many to be finest finest large man within the sport as a result of promotion he’s combating for.
For now, “Bones” has his sights set on Stipe Miocic for a showdown that’s alleged to go down later this yr, whereas Tom Aspinall’s efforts of making an attempt to sneak in and steal the battle, or at the very least to persuade Jones to hold round a bit longer, appear to be wanting much less and fewer profitable.
