Jon Jones won’t be the UFC heavyweight champion for much longer, win or lose at UFC 309. In a brand new interview, Jones expressed a need to vacant the title ought to he defeat Stipe Miocic on Saturday in pursuit of what he calls “tremendous fights.”
“I may see myself solely entertaining tremendous fights after this. After this struggle, if we get a dominant efficiency, I am ready to vacate the heavyweight championship and struggle for enjoyable,” Jones instructed fight sports activities journalist Aaron Bronsteter. “I need to struggle for enjoyable. I’ve had a giant chip on my shoulder my complete profession of getting to defend, defend, defend.聽
“I take into consideration my teammate Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. Win, lose or draw, he fights. I’d like to expertise that for the primary time in my profession. Not having this belt to guard however combating guys I stylistically need to struggle towards.”
Two auxiliary names hover round UFC 309’s fundamental occasion: interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and light-weight heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Jones has repeatedly declined a title unifier with rightful prime contender Aspinall. Jones bizarrely claimed Aspinall was undeserving of the chance and, extra just lately, claimed that Aspinall is an “asshole” who would not deserve his enterprise throughout Wednesday’s media day.
Jones stated Pereira, an undisputed champion with a number of title defenses, is a extra worthy foe. But the “tremendous fights” Jones advised on Wednesday fall broad of legacy-defining.
“Random fights like Jamahal Hill. He and I meet up at 220 kilos to see what occurs,” Jones instructed Bronsteter. “That might be attention-grabbing to see. I am at an attention-grabbing weight the place I can struggle mild heavyweights or heavyweights. Derrick Lewis is the most important knockout puncher in historical past. I am throwing out random names however I am at a body weight proper now the place I can do enjoyable fights. That is what I need to do. I would like enjoyable fights for me, not essentially for the followers however for me. Let’s have a look at if Dana permits me to do this or not.”
Former UFC mild heavyweight champion Hill is coming off a loss and vacated his title and not using a single protection. Lewis by no means gained UFC gold and hasn’t had a profitable streak since 2021. Jones’ need to struggle Hill or Lewis contradicts an earlier assertion that he’d retire with a win over Miocic except UFC books the Pereira struggle.
“If the UFC would not need that to occur, in the end it is the boss’s determination, then it will not occur, then I will simply transfer on with my life,” Jon Jones stated at media day. “One of many methods I take a look at it, would you guys fairly lose me or get one extra superfight and the one superfight that is sensible to me and my crew is Alex Pereira.”
Jones vs. Miocic headlines New York Metropolis’s Madison Sq. Backyard on Saturday.
