Tyson Fury claims he’s still having trouble finding a dance partner for his next fight. However, fantasy matchups with either Jon Jones or Francis Ngannou seem to be very much on the table.
‘The Gypsy King‘ made several headlines in the MMA world after he delivered a scathing response to Joe Rogan’s suggestion that Jones would beat him should the two be locked into a room together. The clip led to a viral back-and-forth between the two giants online. Naturally, this sparked speculation about if the duo could settle things in either a boxing ring or the UFC’s Octagon.
‼️ Tyson Fury ripping into Joe Rogan on Instagram today, calling him a “little p***y” and a “f***ing bald-headed midget” after his recent comments regarding Fury vs Jon Jones…
[🎥 @Tyson_Fury] pic.twitter.com/otSpJhzSQR
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) May 18, 2023
And if this wasn’t enough, ‘The Predator’ still seems keen on testing himself in the squared circle. Since signing with the PFL, Ngannou has also engaged in a considerable back-and-forth with Jones himself. But for now, all eyes seem to be on a dream matchup between Fury and Jones.
UFC reportedly offered Tyson Fury a hybrid fight against Jon Jones
The MMA world assumed that the idea of Tyson facing either Jones or Ngannou isn’t likely to happen. But Fury recently divulged a few intriguing pieces of information.
During his appearance on a Twitter Spaces conversation, the undefeated boxer claimed he’s received an offer from the UFC for a “hybrid fight” against ‘Bones.’ For people unaware, Jones is currently the promotion’s heavyweight champion. The 34-year-old also added that he’s been in talks with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou for a similar type of bout.
‼️ Tyson Fury says he’s now received an official offer from the UFC to face Jon Jones in a “hybrid fight” next. [@FoxifyTrade] pic.twitter.com/SkADrvyoYR
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) June 16, 2023
“I’ve been in talks with Francis Ngannou for a hybrid fight. There’s talks of me and Jon Jones doing a hybrid fight as we talk right now,” Tyson said. “I received an offer from the UFC yesterday. So, you never know what’s gonna happen.”
“The future’s bright for sure. There’s a lot of options out there, and it seems at the moment I’m still going to get an actual boxing opponent,” Fury concluded.
The news of Tyson receiving a formal offer from the UFC signifies a complete 180 by Dana White. Not even a month ago, the UFC head honcho lambasted boxing for making too many “gimmicky type fights” as he reacted to Francis’ PFL signing.
Dana White: “ We don’t do gimmick fights”
Dana 14 hours later: pic.twitter.com/SW3cczXkE9
— ᕋOO⅃ 📼 (@Grapegone) May 24, 2023
“That’s one of the big problems with boxing right now,” Dana said. “It’s all about these gimmicky type fights. That’s just not what I do here. That’s just not what I do.”
However, since making those comments, he’s publicly expressed interest in booking Fury vs. Jones in the Octagon several times too. And in his words, it would settle the “baddest man on the planet” debate. Following this, the MMA world lashed out at Dana for his seemingly hypocritical behavior.
This isn’t the first time ‘The Gypsy King’ has alluded to a hybrid fight
In 2022, after back-and-forth teasers on social media, Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou set the wheels in motion for a rumored exhibition bout. In April 2022, after his knockout victory over Dillian Whyte, Fury welcomed then-UFC champion Francis to the ring.
While Tyson promised fireworks and complimented his potential dance partner’s muscles, Ngannou tempted a historic ‘Rumble in the Jungle 2’ sort of fight in Africa. Back then, as the pair described it, the potential fight didn’t seem to be a straight boxing match or an MMA bout. It appeared to keep the fans in anticipation of a “hybrid” match, with MMA gloves in a boxing ring.
When asked if the fight would happen in the Octagon or the ring, Fury said, “This is going to be one very special fight, like never before seen in the history of our sport.”
Adding to that, Ngannou chimed in and said, “It’s going to be a hybrid fight with a different type of rules. MMA gloves in the ring, make something a little different.”
During the post-fight presser, Fury told reporters, “He’s on my hit list in an exhibition fight, however he wants it. In a cage, in a boxing ring, boxing gloves, UFC gloves – we can make it happen.”
Fury on Ngannou: He’s on my hit list in an exhibition fight. However he wants it. In a cage. In a boxing ring. Boxing gloves. UFC gloves. We can make it happen. pic.twitter.com/mX7KaU1SaE
— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) April 23, 2022
Ngannou, who had also started promoting the fantasy matchup, appeared on The MMA Hour’s latest episode at the time. Speaking to Ariel Helwani, the Cameroonian said, “Make it a hybrid fight, something that makes it a little uncomfortable for him as a boxer. Ideas like MMA gloves or fighting barefoot. We still have to figure this out.”
Unfortunately for fans of the two, the bout never saw the light of the day. Earlier this year, Ngannou left the UFC followed by a long-running contract dispute. In mid-May, He signed a historic deal with the PFL, with the promotion reportedly allowing him to compete in the boxing ring as well.