Jon Jones Open to Facing Cormier-Miocic Winner, but Focus is Still Light Heavyweight Reign

Many people have griped about the lack of action and excitement in the main event of UFC 239, where Jon Jones toppled Thiago Santos via split decision, but the defending light heavyweight champion was quick to scoff at his detractors.

“I heard the boos,” Jones said at the post-fight press conference. “But not many people know what it’s like to be in there fighting. I played it safe. I did, I played it safe, but I had to do what was needed in order to win.”

Jones defended his 205-pound title again and continued his dominance over a sport he’s owned for nearly a decade. His multiple suspensions aside, not many fighters have ever pushed “Bones” to the limit and other than a dubious disqualification loss to Matt Hamill, the New York native has never tasted defeat inside the Octagon.

Santos (21-7) almost pulled off what would have been a monumental upset. After injuring his left knee during an exchange in the first round, the powerful Brazilian never buckled under the pressure and took Jones to the limit, becoming the only man to win a fight against him on at least one judge’s scorecard. Jones won via split decision and acknowledged afterward how difficult the battle was.

“Boy, was he tough,” he said. “We all knew Thiago’s best chance was to knock me out. I played it smart and brought home this gold for my family and team. He was technically a lot more sound than I thought. Thiago Santos is a black belt in muay Thai. I’m proud of myself, because I stood with a guy who’s been kickboxing way longer than me. He implemented a game plan I think a lot of people have wanted to for a very long time. He did a good job. He exploited a hole in my game that won’t be there next time.”

Jones was asked why he, a terrific grappler with six submission wins to his resume, never bothered to take Santos down, even when the knockout artist was stumbling around the cage.

“I felt like I was winning, so there was no need to take him down,” he said. “We were playing a very high-level game of chess in there. Any time you out-kickbox a black belt in muay Thai, you shouldn’t hold your head down.”

Jones’ next move figures to be interesting. He’s wiped out the light heavyweight division, though there are a few young talents on the rise. He was asked what his preference was, to stay and defend the throne at light heavyweight or move up to heavyweight to challenge the winner of champion Daniel Cormier and challenger Stipe Miocic, who will have their rematch next month at UFC 241.

“Me and Daniel, we’re both speaking the same thing,” he stated. “It’s going to be a super fight, and the only reason why it hasn’t happened is, I think, the UFC’s scheduling. When the UFC’s ready for the fight, they know they have two guys who are willing and able and they’ll approach us and they’ll say, ‘Hey, this is what he’s going to get paid’ and Daniel Will be happy.

But what happens if Miocic dethrones “DC” and snatches back the title Cormier took from him a year ago?

“Yeah, absolutely I’d be willing to fight Stipe, as well,” he said. “I’d rather fight Daniel because I feel like I have his recipe, but I’d fight Stipe, too.”

However, Jones made it clear that his ultimate goal is to remain the ruler of the 205-pound division.

“My passion is at the light heavyweight division,” he said. “There’s so many guys that are coming up right now, and there’s so much work to do be done still. People always say, ‘Jon, you’ve cleared your division.’ I don’t look at it that way. I’m impressed by all the fighters. There’s so many guys.”