It seems as if the wait to see Jon Jones compete in the UFC heavyweight division could go on for a while.
The former 205-pound king appears to be content with sitting out for another year or so in order to really get himself prepared for the challenge that lies ahead. However, by the time he gets around to competing, Francis Ngannou may not be a viable opponent anymore.
With that in mind we’ve decided to think up a few other foes that Jones could tackle – whether he returns later this year or not.
Alexander Volkov
He’s big, he’s bad, and he’s a serious challenge at heavyweight.
Alexander Volkov has had a few slip-ups over the years but he’s still a scary guy to face and, in many ways, can be seen as an Alexander Gustafsson-type figure – a man Jones has already beaten twice in the past.
Curtis Blaydes
Once upon a time Curtis Blaydes was a legitimate title threat but after his loss to Derrick Lewis, that status needs to be re-evaluated. We’re not suggesting Jones would be able to walk through him with ease, but he’d likely be the favourite and could fancy himself getting the stoppage.
Jan Blachowicz
It’s a left-field idea but if Jon wants to go back down to light heavyweight and prove he’s still the king, a clash with Jan Blachowicz would be the ideal match-up. The master of Polish Power is on an absolute tear through the division, and he’d thrive on being seen as the underdog.
Brock Lesnar
If the Blachowicz proposal was outlandish, this one is just crazy.
They’ve teased it before, but just imagine the chaos that would ensue in a Jon Jones vs Brock Lesnar collision. Some would call it a bit of a sideshow, but others would label it one of the biggest PPVs in UFC history – and rightly so.
Stipe Miocic
Stipe Miocic wants an immediate rematch against Francis Ngannou so that he can finally complete their trilogy. It’s not hard to understand why, either, considering how dominant he was as champion, but maybe the right next step would be for him to contest a title eliminator against ‘Bones’ in the latter’s heavyweight debut.
Jones has ruled this one out himself, though we know how quickly things can change in this sport.
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