The 31-year-old continues to overcome every challenge put in front of him and fans continue to ask what’s next for the man many believe to be the greatest MMA fighter of all-time.
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White has mentioned “Bones” may move up a division to heavyweight, but if it were up to him he would like to see the heavy-handed Brazilian Thiago Santos be given a shot at Jones next (transcript via MMAFighting.com):
“I love the Thiago Santos fight,” White said at the post-fight media conference. “I love that fight. I would love to see him versus Jon Jones.”
White was asked about the potential of Jones facing current WWE star and former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar in the near future, but shot the idea down confirming that heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier will get first crack at Lesnar.
“The Brock fight is Cormier’s,” White said. “When Cormier’s healthy, that’s his fight. And plus Brock has WWE obligations right now, or believe me he’d be calling me. So, [the Santos fight] is the fight to make.”
White said he wasn’t sure if Jones was even motivated at this point in time in moving up a weight class to challenge the upper echelon in the heavyweight division.
“I don’t know — he doesn’t seem too excited to go to heavyweight,” he said.
As of right now, White is keen on Jones fighting Santos who’s been on a tear since moving up to the light heavyweight division finishing Eryk Anders, Jimi Manuwa and Jan Blachowicz on the way.
“Listen, Thiago looks unbelievable at that weight,” he said. “He’s big, I like his fighting style. And when you put Jon Jones in those types of fights, Jones shines. Jones is one of those guys that rises to the level of his opponent.”