Jon Jones, known as “Bones,” has etched his name into the annals of MMA history. His journey from a young, promising talent to the youngest UFC champion ever at the age of 23 has been nothing short of remarkable. With a career filled with breathtaking performances and iconic rivalries, Jones has left an indelible mark on the sport.
However, as Jones prepares for his upcoming clash with former two-time champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November, the question arises: What’s next for the legendary fighter? At 36, Jones is well aware that his career is winding down, prompting speculation about whether he’ll continue to face the emerging contenders in the heavyweight division.
Former rival Daniel Cormier, reflecting on their epic battles and the impact of their rivalry on MMA, weighed in on Jones’ potential future opponents. Cormier believes that while Jones could elevate the rising stars in the heavyweight division, the question remains, “Why?”
Cormier explained, “The difference is this, man. When we were older fighting Jones — I was 35 the first time I fought Jones but he was already the man. [Quinton] ‘Rampage’ [Jackson] was in his 30s when he fought Jones. [Mauricio] ‘Shogun’ [Rua] was young but he had so much mileage. ‘Shogun’ is literally 30 right now (laughs). But he had so much damage from PRIDE that it was different. Rashad [Evans] was in his 30s. Everybody was in their 30s until he got to guys like Anthony Smith and Thiago [Santos], [Dominick] Reyes, and Jones was kind of like, ‘Ah, those guys don’t make me excited. I went from fighting all these legends to fighting these young guys who really don’t get the juices pumping.'”
Jones recently praised heavyweight contenders Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall during an appearance on the OverDogs podcast. However, his comments hinted at a reluctance to face them, citing the need for a balance between business and competition. Cormier believes that, at this stage, it doesn’t matter who Jones faces. His legacy and allure remain intact, especially in the heavyweight division.
“In this one, he says about Aspinall and Sergei, who would absolutely get the juices pumping, he just isn’t interested because now he’s weighing the business vs. the actual competition,” Cormier observed.
“To me, I feel like Jon Jones as a headliner, it doesn’t really change much in regards to who he’s fighting. He did over 700,000 buys against Ciryl Gane. He would probably do 700,000 buys against Tom Aspinall or Sergei Pavlovich. So what is he saying? He just doesn’t want to fight those young, hard-punching, hard-charging guys?”
As Jon Jones continues to contemplate his next move in the world of MMA, one thing remains certain: his presence in the octagon continues to captivate fans and defy expectations, regardless of the opponent.
