Turki Alalshikh hints at potentially trying
to make Francis Ngannou vs Jon Jones happen 👀“In MMA, all the time we want to do the biggest things… we need to
send Dana White to the moon.” 😅Advertisement
🎥 @DAZNBoxing
#UFC
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— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
December 3, 2024
All hope isn’t lost when it comes to making arguably the biggest
heavyweight fight in MMA.
When Jon
Jones initially announced his plan to return to action at
heavyweight, the most anticipated fight was a showdown against then
UFC heavyweight king Francis
Ngannou. However, a lengthy contract dispute with the UFC
eventually led to Ngannou’s exit from the promotion in January
2023. The Cameroonian-Frenchman went on to join rival promotion
Professional Fighters League, where he was also allowed to
compete in boxing.
Meanwhile, Jones went on to win the vacant title with an easy
submission win over Ciryl Gane
at UFC 285 in March 2023. While talks of a potential clash between
Jones and Ngannou didn’t die down, “The Predator” seemingly burned
all his bridges with Dana White while leaving the UFC.
However, another big player — who is also a friend of White — is
interested in making the fight happen. Saudi Arabian advisor and
current chairman of the General Entertainment Authority Turki
Alalshikh has been making major moves in the world of combat
sports. Alalshikh recently teamed up with White to host UFC 306 at
the Sphere in Las Vegas this past September. Alalshikh recently
hinted that he might be working toward a potential clash between
Jones and Ngannou.
“Yes, I have in the table two options for Francis. One in MMA and
one in boxing I want to discuss with [him]… In the MMA my answer
is, all the time we want to do the biggest things,” Alalshikh told
Ariel Helwani in an interview on DAZN Boxing.
When Helwani asked Alalshikh if he was hinting at Ngannou vs.
Jones, the Saudi minister laughed and said: “We need to send Dana
White to the moon.”
With the PFL already interested in a crossover, Alalshikh could
make the fight happen if he can get White on board.
Ngannou suffered consecutive losses against Tyson Fury
and Anthony
Joshua in boxing after joining the PFL. He recently made his
promotional debut at „Battle of the Giants: Brace for Impact” this past October,
where he knocked out season 2023 heavyweight champ Renan
Ferreira in the first round.
Meanwhile, Jones has defended his title with a spinning back kick
knockout win over Stipe
Miocic at UFC 309
last month. “Bones” remains adamant on not fighting interim champ
Tom
Aspinall unless offered a mammoth payday.