Jake Paul has a lot of respect for Jon Jones, but he believes the UFC star has one more fight to make before he calls time on his career.
Jones reigned over the UFC light heavyweight division for many, many years, and last year he finally became a two-division champion when he moved up to heavyweight and submitted Ciryl Gane to win the vacant division title.
At this point, most fans considered Jones to be one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, perhaps even the greatest. According to Paul, however, Jones needs to face the best heavyweight in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) before his legacy is set in stone.
The PFL’s top heavyweight will be determined when Brazil’s Renan Ferreira takes on Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on October 19.
“I would love for Jon to eventually fight Ngannou or Ferreira,” Paul said. Esquire Middle East“I think those two guys are the best heavyweights on the planet right now, and to cement his legacy, Jon should fight the winner of that next fight.”
Ferreira is the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion and defeated longtime Bellator champion Ryan Bader for the opportunity to fight Ngannou.
Ngannou, meanwhile, is a former UFC heavyweight champion. He never actually lost the title, but left the promotion after a highly publicized contract dispute over salary, and later signed with the PFL.
After leaving the UFC, he had two blockbuster boxing fights, earning more than he had in his entire UFC career. First, he faced Tyson Fury, losing by controversial decision in a fight that was far more competitive than anyone could have imagined. Then, he suffered a knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in a fight that prompted him to return to MMA.
Paul, a social media star turned professional boxer, also plans to compete in MMA and has signed a contract with the PFL to do so.
He was the master of ceremonies at a recent press conference in Saudi Arabia for Ngannou and Ferreira’s upcoming fight, and was impressed by the size of both athletes.
“These guys are terrifying,” Paul said. “It was the first time I’d announced a fight like that, and if they started pushing each other, I would have run off stage. There was no way I was going to stand between them.”
Jones hasn’t fought since his win over Gane last year. He’s expected to face former champion Stipe Miocic next, but he’s been criticized for pursuing the fight against the 42-year-old, who hasn’t fought in nearly four years.
Instead, most fans would like to see Jones fight interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall or Ngannou, who remains MMA’s lineal heavyweight champion.
