'We're 1-1'
11/11/2024 01:04 PM
PFL seems to be obsessed with pairing Francis Ngannou against Jon Jones.
But that fantasy matchup, which requires an unlikely alliance between PFL and UFC, only works if "Bones" defeats Stipe Miocic atop the UFC 309 pay-per-view (PPV) card this Sat. night (Nov. 16, 2024) at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In addition, Miocic may have a better claim to the Ngannou fight after splitting a pair of championship contests with "The Predator." Miocic captured a unanimous decision victory over Ngannou at UFC 220, then fell to the Cameroonian at UFC 260 a couple of years later.
Don't hold your breath.
"I was trying to get the rematch," Miocic told MMA Fighting. "Then he left and it didn't happen, unfortunately. Yeah, of course [I was bummed] because I wanted the rubber match. But also at the same point, he's doing better for himself and his family. I'm not mad at him. He's doing great."
"Listen, I'm okay with letting go," Miocic continued. "I get it. As much as I would love to fight him, I wish him nothing but the best and it is what it is. We're 1-1. That's the way it will be. He got the last one, unfortunately."
The chances of Dana White mending fences with PFL seems remote.
Ngannou parted ways with UFC after a protracted (and ugly) negotiating period that led to "The Predator's" unconditional release. What followed was a couple of high-profile boxing matches, along with a PFL "Super Fight" title at the expense of Renan Ferreira.
As a result, the question of "Best Heavyweight in MMA" may continue to go unanswered.
