Dana White’s Unfiltered Take On Saudi Arabia’s Shocking Bid For Jon Jones Vs. Francis Ngannou

🎗 13

The world of mixed martial arts (MMA) is no stranger to shocking headlines, but the latest development surrounding Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou has sent ripples through the entire combat sports community. With Saudi Arabia reportedly making an unprecedented bid to host the long-awaited showdown, UFC President Dana White has finally spoken out, offering his unfiltered thoughts on the situation.

image_67e0fb8797942 Dana White’s Unfiltered Take on Saudi Arabia’s Shocking Bid for Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

For years, fight fans have speculated about the possibility of the greatest light heavyweight of all time, Jon Jones, clashing with the most devastating knockout artist in UFC history, Francis Ngannou. After contract disputes, organizational changes, and shifting priorities, the fight once thought to be dead is back in the headlines—this time, with Saudi Arabian backing and seemingly limitless financial power.

But how realistic is it? And more importantly, will Dana White actually let it happen?

The Mega Fight That Almost Was—A History of Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

The rivalry between Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou has been brewing for years.

In 2020, after Ngannou demolished Jairzinho Rozenstruik in just 20 seconds, the idea of a Jones vs. Ngannou super fight began to circulate.
At the time, Jon Jones was the reigning UFC light heavyweight champion, considering a move to heavyweight for a legacy-defining fight.
However, contract disputes with the UFC stalled negotiations, with Jones publicly demanding a bigger paycheck to face the terrifying knockout artist.
Meanwhile, Ngannou claimed the UFC wasn’t offering fair compensation, and after defending his heavyweight belt in 2022, he eventually left the promotion and signed with the PFL in 2023.

With Ngannou no longer in the UFC, it seemed like the fight was off the table for good—until Saudi Arabia entered the picture.

Saudi Arabia’s Shocking Move—How They Plan to Make the Fight Happen

Saudi Arabia has quickly become the epicenter of combat sports, hosting some of the biggest boxing events in recent history. Their involvement in MMA is growing, and now, they are reportedly making a massive bid to bring together two of the sport’s biggest stars.

Sources suggest Saudi Arabia is offering record-breaking financial incentives, including:

A career-high payday for Jon Jones and Francis Ngannou
Exclusive global broadcasting rights for the event
A one-time cross-promotional event between UFC and PFL

With billions of dollars at their disposal, Saudi Arabian investors are determined to make the impossible happen.

Dana White Finally Responds—His Unfiltered Take on the Saudi Offer

For weeks, Dana White remained silent on the growing speculation, but in a recent interview, he finally broke his silence—and his response was as blunt as ever.

“Look, we’ve been in this business a long time. Everyone knows how this works. If Saudi Arabia wants to throw a ton of money at a fight, great. But I run the UFC, and we do things on our terms,” White stated.

He continued:

“Jon Jones is under UFC contract. Francis Ngannou chose to walk away. If this fight happens, it’ll happen in the UFC, not because some outside money is pushing for it.”

While White’s comments may seem like a firm rejection, history has shown that big money often changes minds in the fight game.

The Major Roadblocks—Why This Fight Is Still Complicated

Even with Saudi Arabia’s backing and financial incentives, there are major obstacles standing in the way of making this fight a reality.

1. Contract Issues

Jon Jones is signed exclusively to the UFC, meaning any fight involving him would require UFC approval.
Francis Ngannou is with the PFL, making this a cross-promotional nightmare.

2. Dana White’s Stance on Ngannou

White has been publicly critical of Ngannou’s UFC departure, even suggesting that the former heavyweight champ “didn’t want to fight the best.”
UFC rarely collaborates with competing organizations, making a deal with PFL unlikely unless Saudi money forces White’s hand.

3. Jon Jones’ Recovery Timeline

Jones suffered a serious injury in late 2023 and is expected to return in mid-to-late 2024.
The fight can’t happen anytime soon, even if all parties agree.

With these factors in play, it remains unclear whether Saudi Arabia can actually pull this off.

Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou—Who Would Win?

If this fight were to happen, who would come out on top? The stylistic matchup between Jones and Ngannou is one of the most fascinating in MMA history.

Jon Jones—The Greatest MMA Technician Ever

27-1 (1 NC) record
Elite wrestling, striking versatility, and fight IQ
Has never been knocked out or submitted
The best defensive fighter in UFC history

Jones’ biggest advantage is his wrestling—if he takes Ngannou down, the fight could be over quickly.

Francis Ngannou—The Knockout King

17-3 record
The most powerful puncher in combat sports history
Massive improvements in takedown defense
A KO artist who only needs one clean shot

If Ngannou lands just one clean punch, it could be lights out for Jones.

It’s a classic matchup of technique vs. power, control vs. chaos, and legacy vs. redemption.

Will Saudi Arabia Force Dana White’s Hand?

The biggest question now is: Will Dana White give in to Saudi Arabia’s massive offer?

On one hand, White is known for being stubborn and unwilling to bend. He has built the UFC into a global powerhouse on his own terms and is unlikely to cede control to an outside force.

On the other hand, the UFC is still a business, and Saudi money has a way of making things happen. Just as we’ve seen top boxers like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua accept lucrative Saudi deals, it’s possible that the UFC could reconsider its stance—especially if the financial package is too good to refuse.