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Should Jon Jones Consider Future Heavyweight Superfights?

By @RickLaFitte

Jon Jones during major UFC "The Time Is Now" media event in Las Vegas

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After establishing a new mark for most successful UFC light heavyweight title defenses, current 205-pound champion Jon Jones says he’s open to the prospect of some superfight action in the heavyweight division.

He made the remarks in Las Vegas during the major “The Time Is Now” press event. Despite the injury issues being experienced by heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, it’s no secret that a showdown between “Bones” and Velasquez would shape up as one of the biggest fights that the organization could possibly make.

Jones still has some work to do in 2015 before moving up in weight, as he is set to defend his belt for an eighth time against undefeated challenger Daniel Cormier at UFC 182 in January. If he is successful in that highly-anticipated grudge match, there would then loom the winner of the Jan. 24 showdown in Sweden between Alexander Gustafsson and Anthony Johnson.

He already owns a victory over “The Mauler” but has never faced the hard-punching Johnson. After those challenges, Jones believes he would have essentially cleared out the division. That’s when the UFC would likely welcome his presence in a heavyweight division that’s definitely in need of a spark.

There’s no doubt that a Jones-Velasquez matchup would be a dream matchup for the promotion and would do lucrative PPV business. Jones had previously talked about a move up in weight being inevitable as he now walks around at 225-230 pounds. Obviously, he would need to pack on a few more pounds of extra muscle to his lanky frame, but getting to the 235-240 mark in weight wouldn’t be out of the question.

To put it in perspective, new UFC interim heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum weighed in at 232 pounds for his recent triumph against Mark Hunt at UFC 180.

Jones says he’s been training with heavyweights for years, so it wouldn’t be all that unaccustomed for him to deal with. He’s also well aware of the dangers that the bigger guys would present when it comes to punching power and trying to get them to the ground. The idea of Jones squaring off against the likes of Velasquez, Werdum and Junior dos Santos would definitely have an enticing ring to it.

One superfight for Jones that you can apparently rule out is one against Anderson Silva. While the Brazilian legend has competed at 205 in the past, Jones says he has too much respect for the longtime former UFC middleweight champion to ever square off against him. The two greats trained together and had a sparring session after their media commitments for the day in Vegas had come to an end.

For now, however, the champ has his sights firmly set on Cormier. He represents the most dangerous challenge to Jones’ dominant light heavyweight title reign yet.

Rick LaFitte is an MMA Writer for Rant Sports

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