Some Jon Jones next fight news should arrive in the coming weeks, however, while his legion of fans waits, we offer up three likely opponent options and take a look back at his triumphant return to the sport in the heavyweight title fight main event of UFC 285.
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Who will Jon Jones next fight be against?
Following Jones’ victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, the greatest fighter in light heavyweight history must now build a new legacy in the heaviest weight class in the sport. The new UFC heavyweight king will have several interesting options for his first title defense, but his next bout will likely come against either legend Stipe Miocic, or top contenders Curtis Blaydes and Sergei Pavlovich.
- Heavyweight GOAT: A bout between Jones and Miocic has been rumored for more than a year, and following UFC 285, promotion president Dana White all but confirmed that it would be next for “Bones.” However, until contracts are signed there is always a chance negotiations fall through.
- Razor: Blaydes faces Pavlovich in his next bout and would be an interesting test for Jones if he wins. He has arguably the best wrestling and gas tank in the division and offers up some legitimate stylistic problems for Jones.
- The Russian: If Pavlovich can beat Blaydes in April, there is no doubt about his legitimacy as a contender, and he is a monster of a man that has strong grappling and serious power. Making him as real of a heavyweight test as Jones could get in the division today.
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Jon Jones vs Ciryl Game recap
Jon Jones only needed a little over two minutes to show that not only was he back, but he was also already the best heavyweight in the world after just one fight in the division at UFC 285.
What happened: Jones and Gane felt each other out for the first minute and a half of their heavyweight title bout, however, it did not take Jones long to analyze his foe and find a route to quick victory.
During an exchange after two minutes, the new champ dropped his level and was able to get a hold of his foe and eventually down to the ground. On the mat, it was academic as he made a mockery of Gane’s lack of experience and snagged up a surprise guillotine choke to end the bout by submission.
The fallout: If there was any doubt, Jones proved he is still the UFC GOAT and will be an absolute handful in his new weight class. In making easy work of the Frenchman he showed that he may likely dominate heavyweight just like he did light heavyweight for over a decade.
The roadmap: All indications are Jon Jones will face Stipe Miocic in his first title defense, and that is a dream fight that MMA fans have wanted for years.
What makes Jon Jones so popular?
The greatest fighter of all time: There are many UFC competitors who were cage-fighting legends. However, few have the resume of Jones. It’s why he probably has the best case to be called the greatest MMA fighter ever.
- Jon Jones record: 26-1 (10 knockouts, 6 submissions)
- The 35-year-old has only one loss, but his disqualification defeat to Matt Hamill in 2009 has been disputed as an example of terrible MMA referee work, and many still view him as being undefeated after 27 fights.
- Jones has beaten nine men that have held a major MMA championship during their career. Six of them are UFC champions.
- “Bones” has wins over Hall-of-Fame caliber fighters in Daniel Cormier, Quinton Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Mauricio Rua, and even current UFC 205-pound champion Glover Teixeira.
- From 2011 to 2019, only one other man — Daniel Cormier — held the UFC light heavyweight title besides Jones.
- If you typed “Jon Jones brothers” into a browser search you might be surprised to find out that both his siblings have played in the NFL. His younger brother Chandler is one of the best edge rushers in the league over the last decade.
A troubled young man: For all the greatness Jones has shown inside the Octagon, his life outside fighting has been tumultuous and filled with numerous run-ins with the law. It has badly tarnished his reputation and legacy.
- The UFC superstar has been arrested several times during his decade-long run in the spotlight. One of the most infamous was a 2015 car accident where a pregnant woman broke her arm, and Jones ditched his car and ran off before the police arrived on the scene.
- Jones has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs on two occasions. His 2017 positive test led to his TKO win over Cormier, in their rematch, to be overturned to a no-contest.
- The New York native has battled alcohol issues for years and it was the source of his 2021 arrest in Las Vegas. The arrest came hours after being inducted into the “Fight Wing” of the UFC Hall of Fame.
- Many wonder about who is Jon Jones wife. He actually hasn’t been married and instead was engaged for nine years to his former fiancee Jesse Moses. She is also the mother of his three children.
Jon Jones’ net worth
The measure of a fighter’s success is in dollars and cents they stack up from a career of professional fisticuffs. Jon Jones’ net worth is estimated to be $3 million.