Jon Jones promises he’s not scared of anybody. much less Francis Ngannou.
The UFC light heavyweight champion has been engaged in a war of words with the ferocious knockout artist over the past week after they began a back-and-forth conversation about a potential fight between them.
Jones has talked about moving to heavyweight for several years but he’s never actually pulled the trigger. Meanwhile, Ngannou is stuck in a holding pattern as the clear cut No. 1 contender in the heavyweight division waiting on the resolution of a proposed trilogy between Stipe Miocic and Daniel Cormier that is supposed to happen later this year.
On Tuesday, Ngannou ratcheted up the online banter by turning one of Jones’ most infamous phrases against him when he tagged the 205-pound champion while asking “Hello, Jonny are you still there?”
A few hours later, Jones responded while roasting Ngannou’s past performance against Derrick Lewis, which was a highly-anticipated showdown between two heavyweight behemoths that ended up as a disappointing three-round affair as both fighters largely failed to engage over 15 minutes in the octagon together.
“First you can save the rest of your tongue pictures for your other homies and yes I’m right here, just waking up from watching that Derrick Lewis fight again,” Jones wrote on Twitter.
“You ain’t scaring nobody, I saw your heart. You’re a big old mouse, I’ll expose you.”
First you can save the rest of your tongue pictures for your other homies and yes I’m right here, just waking up from watching that Derek Lewis fight again. You ain’t scaring nobody, I saw your heart. You’re a big old mouse, I’ll expose you https://t.co/F6FEcc4mGE
— Jon Bones Jones (@JonnyBones) May 20, 2020
Jones has been adamant about his position regarding a potential move up to heavyweight to take on arguably the most prolific power puncher in the history of the sport.
Ngannou has snuffed out his past four opponents — including two former heavyweight champions in Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos — in a row with none of them making it past the first round. He just recently dispatched previously undefeated heavyweight prospect Jairzinho Rozenstruik in 20 seconds at UFC 249.
Afterwards, a frustrated Ngannou expressed his desire to fight for the heavyweight title rather than being forced to the sideline again but a matchup with Jones might be exactly what he needs right now.
Responding to Jones’ tweet, Ngannou shared an image from Jones’s recent title defense against Dominick Reyes, selecting a moment in which Jones was retreating from his opponent.
I watched some tapes too pic.twitter.com/EE1qb2Y5eY
— Francis Ngannou (@francis_ngannou) May 20, 2020
Jones successfully defended his light heavyweight title against Reyes via a close unanimous decision.
Ngannou is obviously interested in the fight and judging by Jones’ comments, he’s all but daring the UFC to send him a bout agreement to make it official.