Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones has stated that it might take a year for his heavyweight debut to take place due to failed negotiation process with the UFC.
Jon vacated his UFC light-heavyweight belt in 2020 and decided that he will now bulk up and fight at heavyweight. He has been in talks with the UFC for a fight against the newly crowned heavyweight champion of the world Francis Ngannou. Jon Jones asked for huge money for that fight which UFC refused and instead Dana White asked Jones to fight Stipe Miocic while Francis fights Derrick Lewis to defend his belt.
The continued failure of finalizing the fight with Jon pissed of the UFC President who has now stated that he has moved on from this fight and Jonny Bones may never fight in the UFC again.
“Listen, that’s up to Jon Jones, whether he wants to fight or not,” White told reporters. “There (are) fights available. They’re here. I’m gonna keep making fights every weekend, doing fights.
“If Jon Jones wants to fight, he can. If he doesn’t, he doesn’t have to. Nobody’s gonna force Jon Jones to fight. He’s had a great run. He’s got an incredible legacy. I personally see him as the GOAT right now. You’ve got guys that are nipping at his heels like Usman and some other guys out there. You know, it’s up to him. He can fight this summer, or he can never fight again. I mean, that’s up to him.”
Dana White said Derrick Lewis vs Francis Ngannou is the fight to make.
“Yeah, I’ve absolutely moved on. Listen, I put on fights every Saturday. We have a window where we try to build some fights and make some things happen. If the fights don’t happen within that window, we move on, and realistically, I mean I’ve been saying it since the beginning, Derrick Lewis is the guy who should be getting the title shots. He beat Francis Ngannou. He’s next in line, he’s coming off of great performances and that’s a wrap. We’re moving on,” White said.
Jon Jones says he will fight next year
In a series of tweets posted today Jon has talked about his current situation and also opened up on the timeline for his next fight.
Man I’m telling you, I’ve always been the skinny one in my family. Becoming a proper heavy weight is a lot more difficult than I had ever anticipated. I want to do it right the first time. https://t.co/VjnZkh0q6N
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 25, 2021
“Man, I’m telling you, I’ve always been the skinny one in my family. Becoming a proper heavy weight is a lot more difficult than I had ever anticipated. I want to do it right the first time.”
Honestly I feel like the only people that it benefits, me jumping in their early are the other heavy weights. The way I’m training, I’m gonna be a real problem this time next year. I’m comfortable enough to wait and that’s exactly what I’ll do
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 25, 2021
“Honestly I feel like the only people that it benefits, me jumping in their [sic] early are the other heavy weights,” he wrote in the first of the two tweets. “The way I’m training, I’m gonna be a real problem this time next year. I’m comfortable enough to wait and that’s exactly what I’ll do.”
Yes, I got a feeling you guys will still be around. The sport should be bigger than ever by then.. Always looking on the bright side https://t.co/YwB9nGudMb
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 25, 2021
A Twitter user responded, “Another full year out?” to which Jon replied “Yes, I got a feeling you guys will still be around. “The sport should be bigger than ever by then. Always looking on the bright side.”
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