Jon Jones has piqued the curiosity of the MMA community by hinting at his heavyweight debut.
Jones has spent his entire career cleaning out the UFC’s light heavyweight division and with clear challengers few and far between at 205lbs, he has long been linked with a jump-up in weight.
‘Bones’ has made no secret of his desire to make up for lost time and he has already fought twice in the span of three months.
The question now is: What next for Jon Jones?
The rumour mill has been in overdrive this week suggesting that Jones may well take a break from defending his light heavyweight crown by moving up a division to meet former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
And Jones has thrown fuel on that fire by asking fans if they would be interested in seeing him share the Octagon with Miocic on international fight week.
I don’t think you guys are ready to witness @stipemiocic and I, would July give you all enough time?
— BONY (@JonnyBones) March 27, 2019
With Daniel Cormier currently holding the heavyweight title, his long-running rivalry with Jones could be closed out with the realisation of a trilogy if Jones solidifies himself as the No. 1 contender with a win over Miocic so the storyline is most definitely there.
Former UFC middleweight Chael Sonnen, who currently hosts a show with esteemed MMA reporter Ariel Helwani, has claimed that both Jones and Miocic are keen on the idea of meeting in what would be an unofficial title eliminator.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Sonnen said: “Ariel hit me with a curve ball. Ariel told me that he is hearing talks and when Ariel says ‘I am hearing talks’, Ariel knows. Ariel is a journalist. I am a speculator but Ariel does not speculate. He says ‘I’m hearing that both parties have agreed.’ Or that both parties are interested, rather.
“Now listen to this one. Listen to what Ariel said. Jon Jones, at heavyweight, versus – and I know you’re all going to think I’m either going to say Daniel Cormier or Brock Lesnar – I’m not.
“Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic. That got my attention! Really?
“Stipe Miocic, who has kind of been sitting out and playing hard-ball, all of a sudden is willing to come to the table for Jon Jones? That’s compelling as hell, to me. It really is.
“And it does serve the purpose of setting somebody big up for Daniel because whoever comes out of that fight people are going to say ‘OK, I want to see you take on Daniel’.”
