Jon Jones may finally be targeting a return date for his next fight in the UFC.
The ex-lightweight heavyweight champion hasn’t competed in since February 2020,. However, he teased that he would fight Stipe Miocic next. It’s likely to take longer than anticipated for the matchup to be realized.
“Stipe says he will reach his absolute peak in September,” Jones tweeted. “I’m disappointed but patient, I want the heavyweight GOAT at his absolute best. It will be September. No excuses.”
Stipe is saying that he will be at his absolute peak in September. Although I am disappointed, I will be patient and want to see the heavyweight goat perform at its best. I’ll wait until September. No excuses
— BONY (@JonnyBones) April 26, 2022
Dana White, president of UFC has said that Jones vs. Miocic was a fight he would like to see this year. Rumours are circulating that Jones and Miocic could be fought in July during the UFC’s International Fight Week celebration.
Unfortunately, July doesn’t seem to be a date that can accommodate the fight. This could make it an interim title fight with Francis Ngannou as the champion. He will not return to the ring until the late 2022 to early 2023 following knee surgery. Ngannou is also expected to become an unrestricted agent at the end of this year.
Sources close to the situation told MMA Fighting that talks were ongoing for a fight between Jones and Miocic but no deal had been struck just yet on an exact date or location for the bout.
Miocic has been out of action since this past March when he suffered a second-round knockout loss to Ngannou, which cost him the UFC heavyweight title.
Although the Ohio native was hoping for an instant rematch, considering that he has a victory over Ngannou in past bouts, UFC decided not to proceed with a trio between the heavyweights.
All signs point to Miocic’s return against Jones in the UFC later this year. This could prove to be the most important fight of the year.
Jones has been planning a move to heavyweight ever since relinquishing his 205-pound title but he remained at odds with the UFC over his contract.
More recently, Jones secured boxing promoter Richard Schaeffer as an advisor and he’s been working with the UFC on a deal to bring the longest reigning light heavyweight champion in company history back into the fold.
