Jake Paul wants the UFC to release Jon Jones so he can fight Francis Ngannou, per a Bloody Elbow post on X; the UFC has not responded and no fight is booked.
What we know
- Jones and Ngannou never fought while both were with the UFC.
- Paul has not boxed since Anthony Joshua stopped him last December and broke his jaw.
Reported, not confirmed
- Jake Paul asked the UFC to release Jon Jones so Jones can fight Francis Ngannou; Paul's exact wording was not published. Bloody Elbow
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The UFC has not responded to Paul's request.
Knockout Daily
- Darren Till is among the opponents Paul's side has talked to; Paul prefers Christmas Eve, but a date may slip to early next year. The Sun Sport
Jake Paul has joined the long-running wish for Jon Jones against Francis Ngannou, and he wants the UFC to make it possible. Bloody Elbow posted on X late Tuesday that Paul is asking the promotion to approve Jones' release. The exact words were not published, and there is no sign the UFC has answered.
The fight has been talked about for years and never happened: Jones and Ngannou did not share a cage while both were with the UFC. Jones is 39 and fights at heavyweight, where he won the vacant belt by beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 and later defended it against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. He has since retired.
Retired or not, Jones is still busy online. After UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, he jumped into the exchange between Dominick Reyes and Daniel Cormier, writing to Cormier, "I hope one day you heal from such a defeat. Close but no cigar." Days earlier he had invited Cormier to Baton Rouge for pizza to end their feud, and Cormier has not replied.
Paul has a fight of his own to sort out first. He has not boxed since Anthony Joshua stopped him last December and broke his jaw in multiple places. His business partner Nakisa Bidarian told Jack Figg of The Sun Sport that former UFC welterweight Darren Till is one of the names in talks. Bidarian said the date depends on locking in an opponent and a distribution deal, and that a delay of three to five weeks would likely push Paul into early next year. Christmas Eve is the date he prefers.
The practical hurdle is plain: Jones would need the UFC to let him go, and a public request from the head of a rival boxing operation gives the promotion little reason to hurry. Watch for any UFC response, and for whether Jones or Ngannou says anything about the idea.
The fight has been talked about for years and never happened: Jones and Ngannou did not share a cage while both were with the UFC. Jones is 39 and fights at heavyweight, where he won the vacant belt by beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 and later defended it against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. He has since retired.
Retired or not, Jones is still busy online. After UFC 333 in Abu Dhabi, he jumped into the exchange between Dominick Reyes and Daniel Cormier, writing to Cormier, "I hope one day you heal from such a defeat. Close but no cigar." Days earlier he had invited Cormier to Baton Rouge for pizza to end their feud, and Cormier has not replied.
Paul has a fight of his own to sort out first. He has not boxed since Anthony Joshua stopped him last December and broke his jaw in multiple places. His business partner Nakisa Bidarian told Jack Figg of The Sun Sport that former UFC welterweight Darren Till is one of the names in talks. Bidarian said the date depends on locking in an opponent and a distribution deal, and that a delay of three to five weeks would likely push Paul into early next year. Christmas Eve is the date he prefers.
The practical hurdle is plain: Jones would need the UFC to let him go, and a public request from the head of a rival boxing operation gives the promotion little reason to hurry. Watch for any UFC response, and for whether Jones or Ngannou says anything about the idea.
- Summary
- Jake Paul wants the UFC to release Jon Jones so he can fight Francis Ngannou, per a Bloody Elbow post on X; the UFC has not responded and no fight is booked.
- Key points (one per line)
- Bloody Elbow posted on X that Jake Paul wants the UFC to release Jon Jones to fight Francis Ngannou.
Paul's exact wording was not published, and the UFC has not responded.
Paul has not boxed since Anthony Joshua stopped him last December; Darren Till is among his possible opponents.
- Also reported by (Name | URL per line)
- Knockout Daily | https://knockoutdaily.com/news/jake-paul-wants-the-ufc-to-cut-jon-jones-loose-for-the-ngannou-fight
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Fighters in this story
Jon Jones
Anthony Joshua
Darren Till
Daniel CormierSources
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