Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou

[damndaniel]

https://mmajunkie.usatoday.com/2020/05/ufc-jon-jones-calls-for-francis-ngannou-big-money-heavyweight-fight

 

Im sure some of you have seen this already but this fight is starting to seem possible. What a fight that could be. I gotta say, as much as I respect what Jones has done inside the cage (not outside), I think Francis would put him to sleep.

 

What are your early predictions?

[DiamondDog]

I think Francis could do it, just not swinging wildly like he did in his last fight. I don't think that would work with Jones. Jon would play smart and try to grapple a smuch as possible in my opinion.

[Rambo]

There's a really good chance Francis would donkey punch Jones into oblivion. If Jones somehow managed to take him down, he could weather the storm.

 

 

Before the AJ vs DC 1 fight I would of bet the house on AJ vs JJ. Same thing would of happened to JJ that happened to DC, except I don't think JJ monkey rolls to his feet after the big punch lol. After the first fight though the blueprint was out and wouldn't of bet on AJ vs JJ.

[bjornmma1]

JJ would probably have a hard time finishing Ngannou, while Ngannou would get 25minutes to land the big kaboooom.

 

My guess would be Ngannou by KO in less than 4minutes.

[aylib]

Jones doesnt have enougn balls to sign it, despite all his posturing.

[stpierrecanada]

Ngannou by KO

 

Jones doesn’t do as well against guy his size and won’t with someone much bigger.

[Gator001]

I dont think this is happening but if it did down the road, I see no reason why Jones cant win it. He is a better wrestler than Stipe and has very good fight iq. If Ngannou catches anyone its probably lights out, but personally I think his boxing is amateur at best and if he didnt catch Jones clean in the first round he will likely struggle.

 

Stipe has already showed the blue print, Jones for sure has the ability to improve on it. You cant win forever though for sure

[bjornmma1]

Jones doesnt have enougn balls to sign it, despite all his posturing.

He will if they pay him enough.

[Rambo]

Jones doesnt have enougn balls to sign it, despite all his posturing.

Zero chance of this fight happening but if it does you can almost guarantee that Jones takes him down immediately and makes him look foolish.

[Mentor]

I doubt this will happen. If JJ moves up, it will be against whoever is champ. In general, i am not sure if it is in the best interests of JJ to move up, he does well at LHW due to his size and whenever he faces people of similar size, he is nowhere as effective because he cannot use his reach. He also does better against opponents that respect him and fight at a slower pace. Ngannou has the size, power and fights at exactly the opposite pace JJ prefers. That said, Miocic fight against Ngannou is a good example, it is not impossible JJ uses the same tactics to wear him down, however i doubt he has the wrestling pedigree Miocic has to do the same, plus i think Ngannou has improved (that is debatable though, none of the latest opponents have tried to take him down).

 

The longer this goes, the more it favors JJ. If this goes past the 3rd round, 100% JJ should win it. If the finish is in the first 1 or maybe 2, then Ngannou has landed the win. A points win, is always in favor of Jones.

[popart]

Id love to see this, but something tells me if Jon has a chance to win itll have to be a major cuddle sesh. Jon has not looked great as of late, but I still think his wrestling is too strong for Francis. Of course, one punch is all Francis needs.

[bjornmma1]

Zero chance of this fight happening but if it does you can almost guarantee that Jones takes him down immediately and makes him look foolish.

I just don't see Jones taking him down before getting his teeth knocked out of the arena...

Ngannou his power would make Jones hesitant, too hesitant for his own good.

[Rambo]

I just don't see Jones taking him down before getting his teeth knocked out of the arena...

Ngannou his power would make Jones hesitant, too hesitant for his own good.

Ngannou marches forward and wails his arms. Jones panics, ducks, shoots single...

 

Doubt Jones backs up into cage and lets him tee off. Trick will be not getting hit or hit clean and surviving initial onslaught.

 

 

@mentor ufc has history of champs moving around and fighting non-champions. Silva did it twice vs Jamea Irvin and Stephen Bonnar and neither dude was top 5 LHW and top 10 LHW was questionable at best for both.

[stpierrecanada]

Let’s say this, if Jones looks anything like he looked in the Smith, Reyes or Santos fights he will get destroyed by Ngannou. Jones looks like shit lately.

[Bwang]

Ngannou v Dillian Whyte is what’s being talked up!

[damndaniel]

I wouldn't underestimate Jones chin though. Especially if he has extra bulk and doesn't cut weight. Maybe does a lot of neck rolls leading up. He might surprise some people with his ability to take a punch. (obviously I wont be surprised if Francis just flatlined him either)

[Rambo]

I wouldn't underestimate Jones chin though. Especially if he has extra bulk and doesn't cut weight. Maybe does a lot of neck rolls leading up. He might surprise some people with his ability to take a punch. (obviously I wont be surprised if Francis just flatlined him either)

Jones has a solid chin. Nothing crazy but it clear as day he can take a shot. Probably from growing up w 2 older brothers who were superior athletes lol.

 

I picked against JJ a cpl times and rooted against him a lot more. Gus 1 (knew he'd lose 2) and Reyes, guys like JJ w/ his level of boxing, will struggle vs ppl his size. JJ came up on old goods. I was 50/50 on Machida vs JJ, might of picked Machida. Think one of last times I rooted for Brazilian to win mma fight vs american.

 

JJ got to experience Classic MMATycoon hype streaking vs the old degrading fighters on decline style.

 

 

Old MW Vitor

Old MW Sonnen

Old Machida who went to MW

Old Rashad who eventually went to MW

Old Rampage before he officially got fat

 

 

Who has he beaten in their primes? DC, Gus, Smith, Santos*, Reyes*

 

I'm sure I'm missing fighters. All that said, huge props to JJ for taking his last 3 fights. Virtual unknowns in the world of MMA, all 3, and JJ did what champs are not known to do by fighting each of them.

 

How many times has Usman defended his belt? JJ defended his belt 3 times since his last DUI and trying desperately get that $ fight before he retires lol.

 

Also knows he beats Ngannou most ppl put him back on his GOAT spot that he very much misses.

 

and controversy in 2 out 3 of those fights and still fought all 5 rounds, found way to win, never quit despite clearly getting hurt and damaged in Santos and Reyes fights.

 

Love em or hate em, got to respect the game man.

[damndaniel]

I don't think iv ever picked against Jones now that I think about it. But you are right, even back in the day he was getting critics because of the fact he was fighting a lot of older fighters who could have been MW's but just didn't cut weight at the time (Shogun, Machida, Rashad, Vitor, Chael) and he was bigger, stronger, and more athletic than all of them. One fight I feel we really missed out on was Rumble vs Jones. That would have been a good one.

 

Speaking of, Rumble vs Ngannou would be interesting. Rumble might be the guy to prove your theory about Ngannou losing on the feet if that fight ever happens. He has the power to keep Ngannou honest where he can't just swing wild running forward, plus Rumble has a good chin. This might be a weird comparison, but think of Chris Cyborg vs Amanda Nunes. Cyborg was bigger with more power, but Amanda used speed and better boxing to KO her in about 1 min. Rumble vs Ngannou could be very similar as long as Rumble hasn't lost too much speed with the body building stuff.

[Rambo]

I don't think iv ever picked against Jones now that I think about it. But you are right, even back in the day he was getting critics because of the fact he was fighting a lot of older fighters who could have been MW's but just didn't cut weight at the time (Shogun, Machida, Rashad, Vitor, Chael) and he was bigger, stronger, and more athletic than all of them. One fight I feel we really missed out on was Rumble vs Jones. That would have been a good one.

 

Speaking of, Rumble vs Ngannou would be interesting. Rumble might be the guy to prove your theory about Ngannou losing on the feet if that fight ever happens. He has the power to keep Ngannou honest where he can't just swing wild running forward, plus Rumble has a good chin. This might be a weird comparison, but think of Chris Cyborg vs Amanda Nunes. Cyborg was bigger with more power, but Amanda used speed and better boxing to KO her in about 1 min. Rumble vs Ngannou could be very similar as long as Rumble hasn't lost too much speed with the body building stuff.

That's a good comparison. Rumble is a big old Woodley. Great athlete, good bully, not best "fighter" (mental, not physical tools).

 

I think anybody w/ big power... even somebody like Paulo Costa (who I can't fucking stand... but wouldn't bet against him tbh) has a good shot at tagging Ngannou early. Now, I don't think Paulo would succeed because I think he would be more on the timid side than the attack, super aggressive, gotta land this punch before he hits me, side.

 

 

Rumble vs Jones pre-DC would of bet the house on Rumble. Post-DC gave JJ a blueprint. Also JJ not nearly as over confident now as he would of been pre-Rumble-DC fight.

 

 

 

Fights we were robbed of:

Jones vs AJ

McGregor vs Diaz 3

Ferg vs Khabib

[KingEpicity]

This JJ/Dana beef is fucking hilarious to me. It's so obvious too that this all?started because Jones is ducking Francis but wanted to save face by highballing the UFC. Both are dishonest as they come so you cant trust either but Jones has backpedaled his story already. Once thing is certain to me, Dana didn't pull the Deontay Wilder pay comparison out of his ass... Jones def mentioned his name while talking numbers in some capacity. Sad part is he's right, UFC needs to pay their athletes WAY more from top to bottom based on the amount of money they're bringing in... But since Jones is shady this won't start any big movement.

 

Jones saying he will go to boxing was hilarious. He would get DESTROYED by any decent boxer. Jones has an amazing, diverse skillset and may be the GOAT but his boxing is the worst part of his game.

 

 

Also heard a rumor that Francis told Costa to stfu and dissed his last fight during Adesanya/Romero and that Costa went white as a ghost and didnt say anything.

[Rambo]

¹ This JJ/Dana beef is fucking hilarious to me. It's so obvious too that this all?started because Jones is ducking Francis but wanted to save face by highballing the UFC. Both are dishonest as they come so you cant trust either but Jones has backpedaled his story already. Once thing is certain to me, Dana didn't pull the Deontay Wilder pay comparison out of his ass... Jones def mentioned his name while talking numbers in some capacity. Sad part is he's right, UFC needs to pay their athletes WAY more from top to bottom based on the amount of money they're bringing in... But since Jones is shady this won't start any big movement.

 

² Jones saying he will go to boxing was hilarious. He would get DESTROYED by any decent boxer. Jones has an amazing, diverse skillset and may be the GOAT but his boxing is the worst part of his game.

 

³ Also heard a rumor that Francis told Costa to stfu and dissed his last fight during Adesanya/Romero and that Costa went white as a ghost and didnt say anything.

 

Jones didn't highball the UFC. The UFC notoriously low balled Jones or isn't the least bit interested in promoting it - and with good reason. JJ gets KO'd... good luck promoting next LHW title fight. Ngannou gets beaten by Jones... and now they're back at square 1 with him when he lost to Derrick Lewis and who's their next great HW title challenger to hype? UFC needs JJ at LHW and Ngannou at HW unless they can set that fight up for the same price. Btw JJ should make every single bit of 15 million, minimum, to move up to HW. Arguably should be making that minimum per fight.

 

Jones saying he would go to boxing is smart. He'd get paid more for one fight than he has made entire career, win, lose, or draw. I don't think it's about being dominant for him as securing himself and his family financially for rest of his life. I think he's realizing the window is narrow, the paydays are numbered (he's not going to go full-Cerrone... he will never have more than 4 losses on his resume) and he wants to capitalize on it while he still can. It makes sense.

 

Read that from Izzy. Probably true to some degree. I would think it's more of a respect for other fighters thing than it was being scared. He was probably doing what he does to push the fight with Izzy, being annoyed, heckling, etc. and truly didn't mean to upset anybody else. Brazilians are weird lol.