Jon “Bones” Jones made his return to the octagon on December 29th, 2018 after a 17-month hiatus. Taking on Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232, Jones dominated the fight from the start. The result, a 3rd round knockout and the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
After Jones’
Daniel Cormier
As of late Jones and Daniel Cormier are two names that just cannot be disassociated from each other. At every available moment, one is asked about the other.
The duo, of course,
@JonnyBones I don’t think you should come, if you do it becomes about you and I and that’s not what this is about. Too much hostility. I believe we should let this match be about the kids. Not fair to the kids. Our time will come! https://t.co/qhduT1nh5A
— Daniel Cormier (@dc_mma) December 30, 2018
The reduction was due in part to his cooperation with the investigation. The result of which showed there was not enough substantial evidence to prove he intentionally took any banned substances. The Rochester native has since passed eight tests leading up to the UFC 214 bout with Cormier with only one failed test.
In Jones absence, Cormier went on to defend the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship as well as move up to capture the Heavyweight title. Those accomplishments helped put Cormier in the number one spot on the 2019 UFC pound for pound rankings. Jones not happy about that, expressed his displeasure on social media calling it the “number one bulls**t”.
A move for Jones up to heavyweight to take on Cormier will solidify his legacy as one of the greatest, if not the greatest UFC competitor of all time should he win and become a two-division champion.
Anthony Smith
On the FS1 UFC 232 Postfight Show after reclaiming the title, Jones spoke with Anthony Smith. Smith currently sits at #3 in the UFC Light Heavyweight division. After some prodding from fellow analyst and former fighter Michael Bisping, Smith asked Jon Jones if he was available in July, hinting at a possible fight.
While not a holder of the most flawless record at 31-13, he would be the next ranked fighter in the division behind Cormier and Alexander Gustafsson. Fighters who Jones has each defeated twice.
UFC’s Anthony Smith Says He’s In Talks to Fight Jon Jones https://t.co/UArCttbDl4
— TMZ (@TMZ) January 3, 2019
Smith has had an impressive 3-fight win streak, in which he finished all three opponents. In the days after the event, Smith even told TMZ Sports that a fight with Jones was in the talks. Results of those talks should materialize one way or another in the upcoming weeks.
Corey Anderson
Corey Anderson is another fighter
Anderson pleaded his case to Jones on Twitter as to why he was more deserving than Smith for a title shot. A back and forth ensued between the two of them.
All the smoke!!
— Corey Anderson UFC (@CoreyA_MMA) January 1, 2019
Sitting at a record of 13-4, Anderson is on a 3-fight win streak. The 29-year-old may, in fact, be the more intriguing up and comer for Jones. At this moment though Anderson’s callout to Jones may have just been that, but it is intriguing nonetheless.
So What’s Next?
If Jon Jones’ performance this past weekend was any indication of where he is in career right now, then he is very much still in his prime. Whomever Jon “Bones” Jones faces next, he will be sure to give the fans their money’s worth with a spectacle of high-level striking. Look for the UFC to ride this hype train of his return, and quickly book and start promoting another high-profile event in the upcoming months.