Jon Jones Could Fight Ngannou Next Year

Former UFC LIght Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, is set to make his return to the franchise and his next fight is reportedly in the works. Jones, who was champion of the Light Heavyweight division until he relinquished the title in 2020, has not been active in the sport for almost three years now but would return to the octagon next year. Upon his return, he is expected to fight in the Heavyweight division. 

While details of his next fight have not been finalised in anyway, what we know at this point is that one person being considered as his next opponent is current heavyweight champion, Francis Ngannou. Jon Jones has always wanted to fight Ngannou, and when it was brought up in 2020, the fight could not go on as, according to UFC president Dana White, Jones had requested a large amount of money. 

Ngannou has not fought since January, and he is currently recovering from a knee injury he had earlier. But he is expected to make his return to the sport next year and defend his title one more time, but there has been no mention of who his opponent could be. 

But Ngannou is not the only one Jones is considering. Curtis Blaydes is another man who could step up if Ngannou is not cleared to fight in time for the fight. Blaydes is currently ranked third in the UFC heavyweight rankings, with a fight record of 17 wins from 21 fights. His last fight in July against Tom Aspinall ended via a technical knockout 15 seconds into the first round. 

It is expected that Jones will make his return at UFC 285, which is slated to hold on March 5. Jones, a hall-of-famer, has had issues outside of the sport, especially trouble with the law, and that has heavily dented his overall image. But as a fighter, no one can deny how great he is, and his next fight would be one of the highlights of 2023.