Is the UFC targeting Jon Jones’ long-discussed move to heavyweight for July against an ex-champ?
Jones teased that possibility today on Twitter, lending a little credence to a Monday report from WKYC-TV, the NBC affiliate in Cleveland – home of former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.
“I don’t think you guys are ready to witness @stipemiocic and I, would July give you all enough time?” Jones posted on Twitter.
The July date in question almost certainly would be UFC 239 on July 6, which takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas during the promotion’s annual “International Fight Week.” The UFC has not yet announced any bouts for the card, but the event typically receives several high-profile bookings to make it one of the UFC’s most successful pay-per-view events each year.
Jones (24-1 MMA, 18-1 UFC), the UFC’s light heavyweight champion, would not have his title on the line since the fight would be up one weight class. That would mean, in essence, he’d put the 205-pound division on hold while he went north a weight class.
The current heavyweight champion is longtime Jones rival Daniel Cormier (22-1 MMA, 11-1 UFC), who took the title from Miocic (18-3 MMA, 12-3 UFC) at UFC 226 – the 2018 “International Fight Week” pay-per-view. After he won the title, Cormier faced off with former heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar (5-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC), who entered the cage to challenge him.
A Cormier-Lesnar booking hasn’t come to fruition, but it widely is believed the UFC is trying to make that fight happen before Cormier retires – and UFC 239 would be the ideal location for it.
If Jones does indeed move up to heavyweight to fight Miocic, in theory he could get his feet wet in the division. And a win for him, coupled with a win for Cormier over Lesnar, could set up a third fight between Cormier and Jones, but at heavyweight instead of their first two bouts at light heavyweight.
That’s all just talk, though, until the UFC announces fights made official for either of them. But Jones’ hint today may have been a solid step in one-half of that direction.
For more on UFC 239, check out the MMA Rumors section of the site.
