He can’t jump in front of Francis Ngannou”; Dana White opens up over Jon Jones entry into heavyweight division


He can’t jump in front of Francis Ngannou”; Dana White opens up over Jon Jones entry into heavyweight division

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Jon Jones (L) and Dana White

After Jon Jones announced his retirement from light heavyweight division, Dana White has confirmed the news. He said, “It’s official.”

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UFC president confirmed the news on Tuesday that Jon Jones has become a former light heavyweight champion now. Besides that, President also hinted at the fact that “Bones” was planning to spend some time outside the octagon.

Dana White

Speaking with ESPN, he said, “Jon Jones is vacating the light heavyweight title,” White said. “Obviously, you can see he’s been tweeting. He has an interest in fighting at heavyweight, he doesn’t know when. He doesn’t know who. I think he’s going to just take some time right now and do some of the things he wants to do outside of the octagon. When the time is right, he’ll step in and possibly fight at heavyweight.”

However, Dana White didn’t mention any issue with Jones growing a division up. Instead, he seemed to support his decision and hinted that he can get a straight title fight.

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Future of Heavyweight Division

Stipe Miocic

“(Miocic vs. Ngannou) is definitely the fight that’s going to happen at heavyweight now,” White said. “Francis Ngannou had earned that title shot. Then we’ll see what happens. We had a matchmaking meeting today. A lot of the top four or five guys are laid out for fights coming up in the fall. We’ll see what Jon Jones’ timing is to come back and who makes sense for him.”

Jones will get title shot only after Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou

“… Listen, (Jones) is the longtime light heavyweight champion. In my opinion, he is the greatest of all time. If he wants to come back and take a shot at the heavyweight championship, I wouldn’t have a problem with that. But he can’t jump in front of Francis Ngannou right now.”

Jones had got into some public spat with UFC earlier. But despite that fact, Jones is still White’s pick for the greatest fighter of all time.

Well, I say it all the time,” White said. “He’s the GOAT. If you look at his career right now, he’s like 26-1. He’s 27-0, he’s never been beaten in the octagon. He’s fought the who’s who of the sport. He went through murderers’ row at 205 pounds and destroyed everybody. He’s the greatest of all time”.

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