Coach ‘very optimistic’ about potential Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones

Xtreme Couture head coach Eric Nicksick isn’t giving up hope on the potential of a massive Francis Ngannou vs. Jon Jones bout.

Ngannou is a couple of months away from returning to the MMA cage in his PFL debut on Oct. 19 against 2023 champion Renan Ferreira. The former UFC heavyweight champion never lost his title, which is currently held by Jones.

For Nicksick, that dream matchup between two top MMA heavyweights who are no longer under the same promotional banner remains at the top of his wish list.

“It has to be,” Nicksick told MMA Junkie. “How can you be in this position and not want to try to fight the best to ever do it, right? And again, I’ve said this time and time again, I think Jon is the best to ever do it, and if you’re a competitor, how do you not want to try to compete against arguably the best to ever do it?

“That is, yes – you want to gameplan, you want to compete, you want to try to put your best camp forward and your best fighter, and that’s obviously Francis. Yeah, that’s definitely something I would still love to have that opportunity to be able to do.”

The path to a Ngannou vs. Jones fight was once very possible. They were both in the UFC prior to Ngannou’s exit after a unanimous decision victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270. However, Jones admitted needed three years to get ready to move from light heavyweight to heavyweight. Unfortunately, their timelines never aligned, and Ngannou signed with the PFL, who offered him the freedom to compete in boxing.

Jones currently holds the UFC heavyweight title and is lined up to face former champ Stipe Miocic later this year. The matchup has not sat well with many, considering Miocic’s inactivity and Tom Aspinall holding and defending the interim heavyweight title.

Beyond both winning their upcoming fights, Ngannou vs. Jones would require a concession from the UFC, as the promotion has not been open to cross-promotional fights in the past. PFL execs have said they would welcome the opportunity to see the fight, placing the ball in the UFC’s court.

Nicksick is a “never say never” type of guy and would love for things to shake up behind the scenes to create one of the biggest matchups in MMA history before their careers are over.

“I’m very optimistic when it comes to these things and I think money talks, you know, and you get the right people behind you,” Nicksick said. “Obviously we have a good relationship with Saudi, and I know Dana and UFC are working well with Saudi, so money talks. No disrespect to Dana, but he has a boss as well. So, somebody tells, ‘Hey man, this is a lot of money. We’re taking this. Set your ego aside.’

“I think Dana is in a position where he wants to make the best fights, and he’s not going to let his ego or any past history take advantage of that. If he feels that Jon Jones is the best to ever do it, then absolutely, put your best guy forward and give us the opportunity to see if we can dethrone that man.”