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Jon Jones will qualify to fight again later this year, here are three possible opponents for his fight back to the UFC.
With the suspension of his US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is considering a possible return this year. "Bones" is out of competition for a little over a year but that does not mean he should not face a high level opponent in his first fight in the Octagon. Jones' last 11 fights in the UFC were title fights, either for the heavyweight title, to defend the title, or for a provisional title. That being said, could we see Jones fighting in an untitled fight for the first time since 2011? This is a strong possibility since champion Daniel Cormier could expect a heavyweight fight with the return of Brock Lesnar. Although this fight does not yet have an official date, there could be a chance to drag a trilogy battle in the meantime.
Here are three possibilities for Jon Jones when he will be reinstated at the UFC.
Daniel Cormier
As mentioned earlier, Cormier has been on the lookout for a fight with WWE superstar and former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar. The possibility of this fight arose when Cormier defeated Stipe Miocic at UFC 226. In post-fight speeches, Lesnar was brought to the Octagon and called Cormier. UFC President, Dana White, confirmed that the fight between Cormier and Lesnar would be the plan ahead, but did not make an appointment. Lesnar is serving a suspension himself at USADA and will not be eligible to return to the UFC before the start of 2019, after having passed the mandatory waiting period.
With Lesnar until January or February, this could open the door for Jones to get his third shot at Cormier in the meantime. Cormier is the second fighter in the history of UFC (behind Conor McGregor) to hold two league titles at the same time. If he defends the 205-pound belt, he will be the first double champion to defend his title (McGregor has failed to defend both).
Jones wins a win against Cormier and his last meeting was deemed final because of the failure of Jones' anti-doping test. Both fights had dramas for Jones, at UFC 182, he was tested positive for cocaine at UFC 214, he failed the pre-fight test and was stripped of the title. The chance for these two men to confront each other without any interference would be an optimal opportunity for both.
At this point, it's hard to know if Cormier will attempt to return to light heavyweights, but if he does, Jones would be the best option. The only other fighter who could be in the race would be Alexander Gustafsson, whose Cormier announced he would not receive a title with him as a champion. Although this does not exclude a number one opponent against Jones.
Alexander Gustafsson
Alexander Gustafsson was one of the first to call Jones when news of his suspension was made public. Like Cormier, Gustafsson also has a story with Jones. Both fought in what many believe to be the best light heavyweight title fight in history. The two met on September 21, 2013, and although Jones won the unanimous victory, the fight was much tighter than the scoreboards left. Many people believe that Gustafsson won this fight with Jones.
Now, five years later, it seems like the perfect opportunity to resume the UFC 165 game.
Gustafsson himself was not very active in the absence of Jones, the Swedish fighter having fought only once in the last two years. His last fight was a victory over Glover Teixeira at UFC Fight Night 109 in his hometown of Stockholm.
Gustafsson vs. Jones would be a big fight for a possible provisional title if Cormier plans to wait for a heavyweight fight with Lesnar. In any case, these two are required to meet again in a division where they constantly turn around the summit.
Brock Lesnar
Jones is one of the greatest players in the Octagon. He is the youngest fighter to win a UFC title and has proven he can compete with any fighter he faces. When he finally goes to the Octagon, could we associate him with one of the biggest names in the sporting period? Jones mentioned the desire to shift to heavyweight and there is no bigger fight at this level than Brock Lesnar.
In the UFC, there is a tendency to make the biggest fights possible and the fights are in fashion. The bigger the name, the bigger the draw. If there is a fighter on the list who is in second position behind Conor McGregor, it would be Lesnar. If a fight with McGregor was a possibility, the UFC might consider this, but with a 50-pound advantage or more for Jones, Lesnar seems to be a better option.
Dana White is also a fan of this Jones / Lesnar match. He talked about the interest in fighting TMZ Sports. With two of the biggest names in the sport waiting to face each other, the UFC would be more than willing to get there.
Although Jones' comeback has not been established, though he chooses to come back before the end of the year or early next year, he has plenty of options for his opponents.
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