Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones are getting into it.
The two have long sought after a contest with each other, and ever since Ngannou defeated Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight title in March, it seems more than ever a collision could be the best outcome for the fans. While negotiations between Jones and the UFC are apparently stuttering, that hasn’t stopped the two men themselves begin the promotion by offering critiques of the other through social media.
It started when Jones sent out an innocuous tweet, telling Ngannou to “motivate me more” to which Ngannou quickly responded the motivation should already be there for the former light heavyweight champion.
“I shouldn’t have to motivate you Jonny…if it’s not in you already you’ve already lost. I know my motivation,” Ngannou wrote.
I shouldn’t have to motivate you Jonny…if it’s not in you already you’ve already lost. I know my motivation 🌍 https://t.co/YzPZgimlWR
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) April 30, 2021
That in turn quickly caught Jones’ eye, who promised he’d “break” the new champion inside the Octagon if the hard-hitter failed to land a bomb and turn his lights out, something Ngannou shrugged off with good humour — before labelling Jones a decision fighter.
Please don't make me laugh 🥱!
When is the last time that you break somebody out? 🤔 https://t.co/XpFZhrVLcp— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 1, 2021
You're a decision fighter @JonnyBones and you've barely won a fight lately.
But you're going to break me out 😂— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 1, 2021
Those words lit the fuse, and Jones went on one of his fairly infamous Twitter forrays,
“Honestly [Ngannou], I really respect you and your story. I really don’t feel the need to have to crush you in a verbal battle to do what I’ve done to everyone since 2011,” Jones wrote. “A decision fighter? I carried the record for most submissions in the light heavyweight division for many years my friend. You are what we call a one trick pony [Ngannou], every champion I’ve ever faced punched hard. I see right through you. I would rather be a decision fighter than a last for two rounds fight.
“I’m just telling you now [Ngannou], if you want to start this Internet talk, be sure to keep up. Most people that talk shit with me go quiet after a while.. 🏳🏳🏳 Everyone’s going to be the first to smash Jon Jones, very popular theme.”
Honestly @francis_ngannou I really respect you and your story. I really don’t feel the need to have to crush you in a verbal battle to do what I’ve done to everyone since 2011
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 1, 2021
I would rather be a decision fighter than a last for two rounds fighter 🤷🏾♂️
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 1, 2021
Im just telling you now @francis_ngannou if you want to start this Internet talk, be sure to keep up. Most people that talk shit with me go quiet after a while..🏳🏳🏳 Everyone’s going to be the first to smash Jon Jones, very popular theme
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 1, 2021
One imagines this is not the last time we’ll see the pair verbally bickering.
