Jason Burgos
On Saturday night, during the UFC 326 broadcast, the UFC finally revealed the fight lineup for their highly anticipated June card on the lawn of the White House. However, there was a notable omission: Jon Jones. Despite recent rumors that the company was in negotiations to put “Bones” in a fight with former two-division champion Alex Pereira, he was left off the event, and the Brazilian will instead face Ciryl Gane.
In the days since, Jones and CEO Dana White have made different claims about the failed talks. However, the UFC bosses’ recent suggestion that Jones’ career is over and he will never fight in the company again received a strong response from the MMA goat on Monday, in a demand to be released.
Chances are, the promotion will hold him to his contract and not let him fight elsewhere. However, if they did the right thing and let him go, here are six opponents the MMA icon will have waiting for him outside the UFC.
Francis Ngannou
The fight UFC fans have wanted for several years is a scrap with former lineal UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou. The promotion tried to make the bout in 2023, but those discussions also fell through. After getting released by the PFL last week, “The Predator” is free to fight wherever he wants and will be in the co-main event of the May card headlined by Ronda Rousey vs. Gina Carano.
If the UFC let Jon Jones out of his contract, you can bet Netflix would pay big to get him and Ngannou in a cage together.
Jake Paul
Jake Paul has made a career out of competing in bizarre and uneven matchups. The most notable came in December when he was dismantled by boxing heavyweight great Anthony Joshua. If it keeps him relevant and benefits his fight promotion, MVP, don’t be surprised if Paul would be open to facing Jones in a boxing ring or MMA cage if “Bones” became a free agent.
Tyson Fury
Boxing heavyweight legend Tyson Fury has flirted with the idea of an MMA fight on occasion. The Englishman might still be open to the idea if the price is right. However, even if it were in a ring, a Fury vs. Jones boxing matchup would be an easy sell for any major combat sports promoter.
Brock Lesnar
This is an era of bizarre and unexpected bookings in combat sports. If Jones were to fight outside the UFC, he would be looking for big-money fights. Even if they don’t add to his legacy. That is why a clash with former UFC heavyweight champ and WWE legend Brock Lesnar would not be out of the question.
While Lesnar is 10 years older, he remains a freak athlete and would have a size and strength advantage. Both would do what’s necessary to sell the fight, and with reports that his WWE contract will be up soon, a booking is as realistic as any potential Jones fight outside the UFC.
Anatoly Malykhin
Anatoly Malykhin is, arguably, the greatest fighter in ONE Championship history. The Russian has won titles in not one, not two, but three different divisions in the promotion (heavyweight, light heavyweight, and middleweight). Among the potential options in fight promotions around the world, Malykhin is probably the most worthy to face Jones. Furthermore, competing somewhere in the Far East for the first time might appeal to the cage-fighting legend.
Oleksandr Usyk
A matchup pitting Jon Jones versus heavyweight megastar Oleksandr Usyk would intrigue fight fans even more than a bout against Fury. While it would be in boxing and the MMA star would be a huge underdog, the idea of seeing two of the greatest fighters of all-time facing off while they are still relevant would be a must-see for many combat sports fans.
