Francis Ngannou produced brutal response after Jon Jones said he'd beat him in a fight

Francis Ngannou had a swift and brutal response after hearing Jon Jones say he would beat him in a fight.

Jones was over in Saudi Arabia this weekend as part of the ESPN's coverage for the stacked PFL vs Bellator card at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.

The UFC heavyweight champion was asked about his current situation, having had to pull out from his scheduled bout with former title holder Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 following a pectoral tendon tear.

'Bones' is on the mend and although he's been extremely inactive in recent years, there are still plenty of huge fights for him.

The two-time light heavyweight champion mapped out some of the potential tear-ups and claimed he would beat Miocic, interim champ Tom Aspinall and Ngannou, who vacated the title he now holds in UFC.

Image: Getty

Jones claimed: "You know, I feel like there's a lot of fights that the world wants right now. You know the Tom Aspinall fight still, that's really massive. Francis Ngannou and I would be really massive, and Stipe [Miocic] to the hardcore fans, is still a respectable opponent.

"I don't know how the cards are gonna fall; my prediction is that I will beat Stipe Miocic, my prediction is that I will beat Tom Aspinall and Francis Ngannou, so the way that it unfolds is really not my business. My job is just to do what I've always done since day one."

Ngannou, who is signed to the PFL, was also in attendance and watched Jones make his claim.

The camera immediately panned to him and he appeared to say, "In your dreams, you're f*****g fat!".

Ngannou left the UFC and penned a deal with PFL which allowed him to compete in boxing.

He enjoyed an impressive debut against undefeated WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, knocking him down in a fight many thought he won.

The Cameroonian will now take on Anthony Joshua in another huge contest on March and Jones wants him to win.

He added: "I'm rooting for Francis to win, only because his story, how far he's come in life, me being a fellow mixed martial artist. How could you not root for Francis? Francis is a wonderful stand-up person, but Anthony Joshua has been doing this since he was a young boy, and I'm the type of guy who gives respect where it's due.

"If I personally had to put my money on it, not that I gamble, I would put it on Anthony Joshua. But I am rooting for Francis."

Topics: Francis Ngannou, UFC, Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, Stipe Miocic, Anthony Joshua

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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