In recent days, the situation seems to be not very satisfactory for the match Jon Jones vs Francis Ngannou. The UFC president protested his request to raise Jon Jones's remuneration and asserted that if the former Light Heavyweight champion did not want to fight, Derrick Lewis would be ready to replace Jones to face the nunnou.
On the side of Francis Ngunnou, he believed that Jon Jones really wanted the game to happen.
“I believe that Jon Jones always wants the glove to take place,” Ngunnou said. “This will be a big battle, a great battle. I mean, he has been prepared for a long time and he has won for a very long time, but I think this may be the biggest match in his career – to me, it is the biggest.”
“So I think Jon Jones will want to fight. He wants this match to become one of the biggest heritage on his career. So I believe he will want the game to happen.”
Besides, Francis nunnou also believes that Jon Jones's request is reasonable. Nunnou even shared that he wanted to raise remuneration.
“About the remuneration, yes, he is asking for more money,” nunnou continued. “He said, 'Husband and money go', but I think it's reasonable. I think for a big match, everyone wants to have a great remuneration, I believe that.”
“I want to fight. I want to be paid high, and every boxer out there likes it, so nothing is unreasonable in this.”
After the nunnou defeated Stipe Miocic at UFC 260 to win the championship title, his request for an increase in remuneration was very reasonable, no matter who the opponent was. This demand must be more appropriate when the potential opponent is Jon “Bones” Jones – the head of the best boxer rankings.
However, it seems that the dream of raising the salary of both Jon Jones and Francis nunnou will be difficult to come true because Dana White is famous for often ignoring the demand for the martial artist's remuneration (except Conor McGregor!).