The Jon Jones next fight news may not come for some time following a pectoral tear in October. However, whenever he does return, here are three likely opponent options for the man considered to be the UFC GOAT.
Related: What is Slap Fighting? Everything You Need to Know About this Fast Growing Sport
Who will Jon Jones next fight be against?
Jones made his return to the sport in March with a dominant performance in his heavyweight debut. In victory, he added the heavyweight title to his legendary resume and placed himself atop the division mountain. That is why when he is fully recovered from his pectoral injury, matchups against Stipe Miocic, Tom Aspinall, or Curtis Blaydes would make sense next.
- The heavyweight GOAT: Jones vs. Miocic is an important fight in MMA history. That is why it makes sense to possibly reschedule it for next year, and that is reportedly a potential plan for the organization in 2024.
- The Englishman: Tom Aspinall would be a fascinating opponent for Jones. After his destructive win over Sergei Pavlovich last year he earned the division’s interim title and seems like the best fighter in the weight class today.
- Razor: Following a dominant win over Jailton Almeida earlier this year, Curtis Blaydes would be a great plan B if injuries forced Miocic of Aspinall out of a booking. Blaydes has great cardio, outstanding wrestling, and power in his hands. Making him a well rounded and dangerous test for “Bones.”
Related: UFC tonight – Fight card, odds, and watch times for the next UFC event
Why Jon Jones is out of UFC 295?
Many fans were excited to see Jones and Miocic face off in the main event of UFC 295 on Nov. 11. However, the historic matchup was scrapped due to an injury just three weeks before it was set to take place in New York’s Madison Square Garden.
What happened: Jones vs. Miocic seemed on track and set to make history as the promotion neared the highly anticipated event. However, in October UFC President Dana White revealed that “Bones” tore his pectoral tendon while training for the bout. Tests eventually showed that he needed surgery and would be sidelined for the next eight months.
Miocic was reportedly not asked to remain on the card in an interim title fight because the UFC boss claimed that request would be disrespectful to the heavyweight legend.
What’s next for Jones and Miocic: Jones is not likely to return until the summer or third quarter of 2024. When he does get back inside the Octagon, a fight against Miocic, Aspinall, or Pavlovich is expected to be next As for Miocic, chances are he either faces Jones next year or chooses to retire from the sport of MMA.
Is Jon Jones the greatest fighter ever?
It is hard not to consider Jon Jones as the greatest fighter ever. He is 27-1 and his lone defeat is a controversial disqualification in a bout he was dominating back in 2009. During his career, he has beaten countless Hall-of-Fame caliber fighters and former champions, is the best light heavyweight fighter in UFC history, and is one of the few to win championships in two divisions.
The only person who has come close to beating “Bones” during his time in the sport really is himself.
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: 27-1 (10 knockouts, 7 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 who 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.
- Jones made history in 2023 by becoming the latest fighter to be a two-division UFC champion when he beat Ciryl Gane for the vacant heavyweight title at UFC 285.
- 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.
Related: UFC welterweight rankings – Ranking the top 10 170-pound fighters in the world
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.
Did Jon Jones ever get married?
Many wonder about who is Jon Jones’ wife. But he actually hasn’t gotten hitched and instead has been engaged for over nine years to his fiancee Jesse Moses. She is also the mother of his three children.