Francis Ngannou Eyes Jones & Paul After Dominant Win

Francis Ngannou made a decisive return to the octagon on Saturday night, defeating Philipe Lins with a first-round knockout. During his post-fight interview, Ngannou was directly challenged by Ariel Helwani regarding his future opponents. He explicitly called out Jon Jones, expressing a desire to fight him before both retire.

Ngannou also addressed Jake Paul, though with less apparent enthusiasm. A potential bout with Jon Jones is complicated, as Ngannou is no longer with the UFC, while Jones remains under contract with Dana White's organization. For this fight to occur, either Ngannou would need to be reinstated or Jones would need to extricate himself from his current contract.

Jones himself acknowledged Ngannou's call-out, stating his need to focus on exiting his UFC contract, though he indicated this would not be easy. The UFC typically restricts its fighters from participating in other MMA promotions, making Jones's departure crucial for any such encounter.

Ngannou's record now stands at 19-3-0, with his last loss in July 2018. He was born in Batié, Cameroon, on September 5, 1986, and is currently 39 years old.