Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou won't dismiss Stipe Miocic's chances of unseating Jon Jones from the throne next month.
For only the second time since "The Predator" exited the promotion and relinquished the gold, the UFC's heavyweight belt will be on the line at the annual Madison Square Garden-held pay-per-view in November
After capturing the vacant strap with a rapid submission of Ciryl Gane in his divisional debut last year, Jones will return from an injury layoff for a rescheduled defense opposite Miocic.
The 42-year-old Ohio native hasn't competed since being brutally knocked out by Ngannou well over three years ago. That fact has left many doubting his prospects of regaining the heavyweight crown, and it's made the Cameroonian fall on the side of "Bones."
Ngannou Leans To Jones In UFC 309 Prediction, Says Miocic 'Not Getting Any Younger'
During an appearance on the debut episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, Ngannou was asked for his thoughts on the upcoming title fight in the division he formerly ruled over.
Given Miocic's long spell on the sidelines and the uncertainty surrounding his fighting condition, "The Predator" is narrowly leaning the way of Jones for the UFC 309 headliner.
But should his ex-opponent turn up in the state that paved the way for two title reigns, Ngannou wouldn't be surprised to see Madison Square Garden play host to an upset.
Stipe hasn't fought since what, three years and a half? So I don't really know where he's at. I don't really know how he'll show up," Ngannou said. "He always shows up good, but it's been a while, and he's not getting younger. I think all those questions makes me slightly shift to Jones' side.
But Stipe is a guy that is very committed. When he shows up, he shows up in full," Ngannou continued. "If he shows up in full, he can really surprise you. So I wouldn't be surprised also if he wins.
Regardless of Miocic's condition when he makes the walk for the first time since 2021, Jones will look to establish firm dominance over the heavyweight legend to keep ahold of the belt in what many anticipate to be his final fight.
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Ngannou, meanwhile, is just days away from his long-awaited return to mixed martial arts competition.
Following a pair of lucrative boxing matches opposite Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, "The Predator" will debut in the SmartCage as the headline act for the upcoming PFL pay-per-view in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.