"Only difference is Miocic was 3 years younger" - Fans react as Jon Jones surpasses Francis Ngannou's days as HW champion

Jon Jones has surpassed Francis Ngannou’s reign as UFC heavyweight champion, igniting fan comparisons between the two fighters' accomplishments.

Ngannou’s reign began on Mar. 27, 2021, when he knocked out Stipe Miocic at UFC 260. His tenure lasted 659 days before being stripped of the title on Jan. 14, 2023, due to a contract dispute. Ngannou defended his title once, defeating Ciryl Gane by unanimous decision at UFC 270 before leaving the UFC to pursue a boxing career.

Meanwhile, Jones made his heavyweight debut at UFC 285, claiming the vacant title with a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane. Since then, Jones has successfully defended his title against Miocic at UFC 309 on Nov. 16, 2024.

Check out the Instagram post by @groundndpound below:

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Several fans reacted to the post, comparing the reign of Ngannou and Jones and wrote:

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"Difference was Stipe was still competitive when Ngannou fought him."

"Francis beat a champion to become the champion, jones beat someone coming off of a loss to become the “champion” and then next fight defends “his belt” from someone also coming off of a loss."

"Ngannou was kept under contract for another 19 months after the Gane fight. He has made it clear that he was going to box. But this time is for the UFC to negotiate."

"That's like saying Jake Paul is better than Larry Holmes because he beat Mike Tyson."

"Only difference is Miocic was three years younger."

Check out some of the fan reactions below:

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Fans react to title reign comparison of Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones. [Screenshots courtesy: @groundndpound on Instagram]

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Francis Ngannou closes the chapter on Jon Jones fight talks

Francis Ngannou has moved past the idea of a fight with Jon Jones, a matchup long desired by MMA fans. Once envisioned as a clash of titans during their UFC tenures, the bout never materialized due to disagreements over pay and other factors. The questions persisted even after Ngannou’s move to the PFL in 2023. However, 'The Predator' has dismissed the idea now, stating a lack of interest in the matchup.

Since leaving the UFC, Ngannou has focused on other challenges, including high-profile boxing bouts against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Speaking about a potential fight with Jones in an interview with Seconds Out, Ngannou said:

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“It’s been four years that I’ve been saying it. I’m confused that people keep asking me this question. It's been four years. That’s not my problem, I don’t care about it anymore. If it happens, yes, if it doesn’t, f*ck it.”

Check out Francis Ngannou's comments below:

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