Despite his talked-about UFC heavyweight debut still indefinite, Jon Jones has a wide array of possible opponents in the division.
Jon Jones is trying to get back on track, having been dealing with a series of troubles both in his career and personal life. But one thing certain about the former longtime light heavyweight champ is that he's got his sights on a UFC heavyweight debut.
If the UFC is about to slate Jones for a heavyweight fight sooner rather than later, the promotion will have to do a great job in matchmaking as there's a host of interesting fights perfect for “Bones.”
Stating the obvious, Jones has been eyeing a superfight with reigning UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Apart from Jones becoming a “champ-champ” when he beats Ngannou, another thing that makes this fight interesting is that this will be the first time Jones will take on a natural heavyweight with a proven devastating knockout power.
“I will admit Francis is a bigger one when it comes to the financial side,” Jones told ESPN in September. “But it's all good. I want the belt, really. I want the belt, I want big money.”
“I think it would be a really exciting fight, for sure,” Jones said. “Personally, I feel like I've fought guys that are a lot tougher, a lot more skilled and versatile. Better conditioned. But as far as just excitement for the fans, the general public? Yeah, that's gonna be a big fight. Whether it's Francis or Ciryl — whoever it may be — I just want to be a champion again. Well, heavyweight champion. I'm always the champion, but I just want to be the heavyweight champion.”
Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic may have lost his mojo when he lost his belt to Ngannou during their rematch at UFC 260. And this made him less appealing to Jones.
“I'm open to the ideas,” Jones pointed out. “I've fought for so many years at this point, I'm looking to make as much as money as I can, if I'm being honest. I fight for legacy and I do know that beating Stipe Miocic will be huge for my legacy. Right now, he doesn't have the belt and he's not the most famous heavyweight. I'm looking to just get mainstream America excited about MMA and the heavyweight division. … Big, megafights.”
However, a win over the fighter who has the most UFC heavyweight title defenses in history, will still be significant for Jones' heavyweight debut.
Article Continues BelowDerrick Lewis
Barring Cyril Gane, Derrick Lewis is arguably the best top-ranked contender in the current UFC heavyweight division.
Should the UFC decides not to instantly hand Jones a heavyweight title shot against the winner between Ngannou and Gane, Lewis is the definitely the fight to make.
Cyril Gane
Cyril Gane's rise to prominence in the UFC is unique. Unlike typical heavyweights who rely mostly on their knockout power and wrestling, Gane is more of a versatile fighter who likes to mix and match things during fights.
What's in it for Jones? Well, if Gane beats Ngannou, then it will be a no-brainer as he and Jones will be fighting for heavyweight supremacy. But if it goes the other way, a Gane vs. Jones fight still makes sense as people will be curious to see how the former light heavyweight will do against a savvy, natural heavyweight who appears to have the same fighting style as him.