Francis Ngannou shares the blame for Jon Jones fight not materializing, says UFC commentator Jon Anik 

The MMA community is buzzing about Francis Ngannou's lucrative contract with the PFL (Professional Fighters League). The former UFC heavyweight champion secured one of the best contracts in the history of the sport, with numerous perks for both him and his prospective opponents.

Fans of mixed martial arts are thrilled for Francis Ngannou since he stood firm on his demands and settled for nothing less than the best. However, they are also disappointed that a dream showdown with Jon Jones is no longer a realistic prospect. UFC president Dana White blames Ngannou's reluctance to take "risks" for the superfight never materializing.

A video of Dana White has now surfaced from the UFC 260 post-fight press conference following Francis Ngannou's thunderous knockout victory over Stipe Miocic in the rematch that saw him become the UFC heavyweight champion. After the crushing knockout, White suggested that Jon Jones should move to the middleweight division in light of Ngannou's success at heavyweight.

Eric Nicksick, Ngannou's coach, also disputed Dana White's recent claims that the Cameroonian does not want to fight Jones, revealing that there was a point in time during Jones' prolonged hiatus that the UFC could not get a hold of him.

Taking everything into consideration, UFC analyst Jon Anik laid blames on all parties involved for the Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou fight failing to materialize. Speaking in a recent episode of The Anik & Florian Podcast on DraftKings' YouTube channel, Anik stated:

"There is blame to be levied on several sides when it comes to Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones fight not materializing. But big picture, if you're a mixed martial arts fan, and you're a Ngannou fan, in the context of him being an MMA fighter, him taking two and a half years off as the baddest man on the planet is fruitless."

Ngannou hasn't comepeted since his victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January 2022.

Catch Jon Anik's comments below (11:00):

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Tom Aspinall weighs in on Francis Ngannou's new contract with the PFL

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou recently signed an incredible multifight deal with the PFL.

The 36-year-old star and the organization made the joint statement on Tuesday. As part of his new contract with the PFL, Ngannou has guaranteed each of his future opponents a minimum $2 million payout. While this is an important step in the direction of paying fighters fairly, UFC president Dana White cannot wrap his head around how the deal makes commercial sense for the PFL.

Surging heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall, meanwhile, is happy for Ngannou, stating in a recent interview with TheMacLife:

"If it works for him and he's happy about it.... Fair enough! If he feels like he deserves more than what the UFC was offering him and he's gone and got that, fair play to the guy."

Check out the full interview below: