Photo by Mike Roach/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC
With former two-division champion, Daniel Cormier, coming off a recent loss at heavyweight, it’s unlikely that “DC” will be in line for another shot at longtime rival and reigning 205-pound champion, Jon Jones.
That means “Bones” can either jump up in weight and test his might against current heavyweight kingpin, Stipe Miocic, or hang around his current division to see what names the promotion can dredge up for his next fight.
Jan Blachowicz (24-8) is shooting his shot, or whatever the kids are calling it these days.
“Jon Jones, if you give me the title shot, you will feel the legendary Polish power,” Blachowicz told ESPN on Monday. “I promise you are going to get the hardest fight of your life. Thank you.”
Jones is no stranger to hard fights, having just gone five rounds with Thiago Santos in what proved to be a tougher bout than most of us expected. Still, “Bones” believes he’s got the innate ability to neutralize the power-punching Pole.
“I’m assuming he’s never competed against an inner-city black kid from the U.S. before, that’s no small task either,” Jones said on Twitter. “We got Jan out there politely asking for a taste of the dream team. We all know what happens here.”
Jones (25-1, 1 NC) has pretty much cleaned out the light heavyweight division over the last few years. Dominick Reyes and Johnny Walker, two contenders currently in the mix, still have some work to do before securing the golden ticket.
Blachowicz, 36, has won five of his last six and sits at No. 5 in the official rankings. I’m sure the promotion could do worse in terms of title challengers, but this feels more like keeping the seat warm until Jones and Co. are ready for the next big thing.