Ngannou almost pulled off the greatest upset in boxing historyCredit: Getty

Ngannou didn’t get the win, but he emerged from the bout with a ton of credit and earned himself another monster payday against Joshua on March 8.

‘The Predator’ briefly paused his preparations to be in the front row when Renan Ferreira and Ryan Bader battled it out for the right to face him later this year.

Jones, who won the UFC belt vacated by Ngannou when he left to explore free agency, was also at the PFL vs Bellator event in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.

‘Bones’ was invited onto the DAZN broadcast by his former opponent Chael Sonnen before being asked how he sees Ngannou’s upcoming boxing match playing out.

The MMA legend tried to be as respectful as he could while predicting Joshua would beat Ngannou, who was sitting just a few feet away with Mike Tyson.

“I’m rooting for Francis to win,” Jones said.

“Only because of his story, how far he’s come in life and him being a fellow mixed martial artist. Yeah, I mean how can you not root for Francis? Francis is a wonderful, stand-up person.

“So, I’m rooting for Francis, but Anthony Joshua has been doing this since he was a young boy and I’m the type of guy who just gives respect where it is due.

Jones tried to be as diplomatic as possible while predicting AJ vs NgannouCredit: PFL/DAZN

‘The Predator’ aimed a playful dig at his old rivalCredit: PFL/DAZN

“If I had to personally put my money on it – not that I gamble – I would put it on Anthony Joshua, but I am rooting for Francis.”

A massive smile beamed across Ngannou’s face as he listened to Jones predict his demise, and he playfully responded by booing him before making a comment that earned a fist bump from ‘Iron Mike’.

He screamed: “You’re losing your money!”

Jones is currently out injured and is expected to return later this year.

A fight with fellow MMA icon Stipe Miocic is already booked, but interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall is chomping at the bit waiting for the winner.

Jones boldly predicted he would beat Miocic, Aspinall and Ngannou before Joshua’s next opponent once again started shouting from the sidelines.

“In your dreams. You’re f***ing fat,” Ngannou said.

Jones vs Ngannou is the fight everyone wants, but it seems highly unlikely they’ll ever clash now that they are in two rival MMA promotions.