During an interview with TMZ Sports on Sunday, UFC President Dana White said he’s hoping Jon “Bones” Jones will make a return to the octagon this summer for International Fight Week, and revealed who he would like the heavyweight to face.
Jones hasn’t fought since he defeated Dominck Reyes via unanimous decision at UFC 247 in February 2020. Now, White says Jones making a return to the octagon in a fight against former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic is what ‘makes sense.’
“Listen, people have been talking about how awesome this card is, and I was just telling somebody the other day our lineup for this summer is incredible,” White said. “I’m hoping that Jon Jones is gonna be a part of that lineup this summer.”
When asked if Jones would take on Francis Ngannou or Stipe Miocic, White said, “Yeah, Stipe makes sense.”
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Why hasn’t Jon Jones fought in two years?
Jones (20-1) vacated his UFC light heavyweight champion in August 2020 after a dispute with White over fighter pay. The heavyweight has been plotting a move up to the division for most of the time since his last fight, but contract disputes and legal trouble have kept him from making a return.
With White saying Miocic (14-4) is the ideal opponent for Jones to make a return, it seems that all the issues between the two have been put to rest. The UFC reportedly intends to implement an interim belt for the division due to reigning heavyweight champion Ngannou undergoing knee surgery and expected to be sidelined for the remainder of 2022.
Marca
