In a perfect world, Ngannou's coach wants Jones fight next
Coach Eric Nicksick won't let go of the Francis Ngannou versus Jon Jones superfight.
Nicksick, who helped guide Ngannou to a stunning split-decision loss against world boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury last weekend in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said his preferred next matchup for Ngannou is a co-promoted MMA bout against current UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
"I want to compete against the best, and I think Jon is the best," Nicksick said on "The MMA Hour" on Wednesday. "I don't want any more guesses on who's the baddest man on the planet."
He added: "This is no disrespect to Jon. I think he's the best to ever do it. But I want that opportunity to coach against him, and I want that opportunity to go beat the guy."
The UFC discussed booking Ngannou-Jones for years and it quickly became one of the most anticipated fights in recent history. Nicksick has wanted to see it happen as much as anybody. "It could be one of the best MMA fights ever," he told theScore in 2021.
The UFC's plan was for Jones, the former longtime light heavyweight champion, to move up in weight and challenge Ngannou for a second title. However, the fight did not materialize on several occasions and for multiple reasons. Talks ended for good when Ngannou left the UFC as the heavyweight champ in January to test free agency. Jones won the vacant heavyweight belt in March.
With Ngannou now under contract with the PFL, the UFC would have to agree to co-promote the fight. Dana White and Co. have been known to avoid this kind of scenario in the past. But Nicksick was adamant that "both sides can make that happen if they really wanted to." And he believes it would be worth it.
"(The UFC) didn't get anything back from letting the baddest man on the planet walk away," Nicksick said. "Nothing. They didn't go put on a superfight, they didn't do anything. They just let him walk for free. I think that now, you can kind of right that wrong and give yourself that opportunity to go and cross-promote. Right? Do a PFL-UFC and put the baddest man on the planet up against the other one."
Nicksick said he would like to see the fight sell out Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. If that happens, Nicksick thinks it would be a win for everyone involved.
"If the business is right, the money is right, the logistics are right, I think you set your ego aside and make it happen," Nicksick said.