Francis Ngannou’s return to the cage has captured the attention of the MMA world, with none other than Jon Jones praising his performance. After a dominant win over Renan Ferreira, Ngannou reminded everyone why he’s still regarded as one of the best. His emotional tribute to his late son, Kobe, made the victory even more heartfelt, showing the fighter’s resilience through personal tragedy.
Ngannou had spent the last year in the boxing ring, taking on Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, both tough opponents. Despite his efforts, he fell short against both but earned respect for stepping out of his comfort zone. His return to MMA, however, was no easy feat, with Ferreira being a formidable opponent at 6’8”. Ngannou used his wrestling to take control early, securing a takedown that led to his ground-and-pound victory.
The fight did stir some controversy, as fans criticized referee Dan Miragliotta for stopping the fight too late. Many felt that Ferreira endured more damage than necessary before the referee called it off. Nevertheless, Ngannou’s triumph was clear, and the post-fight scene was emotional as he broke down in tears with his family, dedicating the win to Kobe.
Jon Jones Reacts to Francis Ngannou’s PFL Title Win
Jon Jones, who many still view as Ngannou’s biggest rival, took to X (formerly Twitter) to acknowledge his performance. Instead of adding fuel to their rivalry, Jones congratulated Ngannou on his impressive display, tweeting,
“What an amazing job Francis did tonight, displayed a complete MMA game. Great kicks, great takedowns. It feels good to see him shine. Wow, congratulations Champ, I see you.”
Jones’ message was a welcome surprise for fans, considering the heated back-and-forth between the two over the years. Many had hoped to see them fight when Ngannou was still with the UFC, but contract negotiations fell through, leading Ngannou to sign with PFL and pursue his boxing ambitions. Despite this, the belief persists that a match between the two would be a dream showdown in the heavyweight division.
While UFC president Dana White has dismissed any chance of a cross-promotional fight between the UFC and PFL, the prospect of Jones and Ngannou sharing the octagon still lingers in the minds of fans. Ngannou’s recent victory proves he’s far from done in MMA, and his future could involve a mix of both boxing and MMA.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
