Jon Jones is edging closer to his heavyweight debut with potential fights against Francis Ngannou, Stipe Miocic, and Ciryl Gane seemingly just around the corner.
The former 2x light-heavyweight champion has been contemplating a move up to heavyweight for years and fans have always speculated about how he’d fare against the baddest men in combat sports.
One man who thinks Jones will be just fine is Chris Barnett (22-7), who also competes in the UFC’s heavyweight division and has previously sparred with the 205lb GOAT.
“I sparred Jon Jones when I was 300lbs and he was still a 205’er. He threw me. He dropped me like I was 130lbs. I was like, 'Yeah, you’re different, man. You are different, man,’" Barnett told Sportskeeda MMA.
"It’s going to be interesting him coming into the heavyweight division but now, the heavyweight division is, I'd say, more athletic. Some of these fights that I've seen. These guys are moving out there.
“You’ve got Ciryl Gane coming in here with his footwork. Ngannou is out there speed-wise. It's gonna be very interesting, him jumping into the heavyweight division.
"Honestly, I can't wait to see it. I hope they throw him up there in the top five quick because ain't no reason for him to come back this way. Stay over there, you good."
Jones hasn’t fought for more than two years after defending his light-heavyweight title against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in February 2020.
Since then, he has relinquished the 205lb belt with the view to competing at heavyweight moving forward. The MMA legend has been bulking up for his divisional debut, but it has been delayed by a financial dispute with the UFC.
During his time away from the sport, the heavyweight title picture has become seriously messy as the current champ, Ngannou, seems set to leave the UFC at the end of this year.
‘The Predator’ seems to have fought for the last time in the UFC as his current deal came to an end in January when he picked up a decision win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 270.
Due to a championship clause in his contract Ngannou is tied to the promotion for three more fights or one year - whatever comes first. The Cameroonian KO artist is set to be out for the rest of his year, though, having had knee surgery.
A lucrative, career-defining fight with Jones could convince Ngannou to sign a new deal with the UFC but it seems more likely that ‘Bones’ will make his heavyweight debut against someone else.
Miocic appears to be the frontrunner considering the high regard he is held by fight fans. The former champ, who hasn’t fought since being knocked out by Ngannou in March 2021, has been calling for an immediate title shot for his return bout.
As he is the most successful heavyweight champion of all time, Miocic could get the call to square off against Jones for an interim belt this summer.
Gane is another man who is very much relevant in the heavyweight title picture. The French striker fell marginally short in his first shot at UFC gold and nothing about his performance against Ngannou suggested he couldn’t become champion at the second time of asking.
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