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I’m not in a position to speak for UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, but after watching him struggle against the might of Dominick Reyes in the UFC 247 pay-per-view (PPV) main event earlier this month in Las Vegas, Nevada, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind getting his groove back against a different 205-pound contender.
That’s probably why streaking division standout, Jan Blachowicz, will be getting a fruit basket from “Bones” after starching fellow light heavyweight hopeful, Corey Anderson, in the UFC Rio Rancho headliner last weekend on ESPN+. After all, a boring five-round decision (like this one) would probably send Jones back to “The Devastator.”
“Jan’s been looking great,” Jones said (via MMA Fighting). “The way he knocked out Luke Rockhold. The way he just knocked out Corey Anderson. I mean both of those guys aren’t really known for being able to take a punch but he’s pulling the trigger and he’s landing those big shots. I think he’s very deserving. I think everyone knows the winner of that fight [was] in title contention. To finish the fight the way he did, first round knockout, I don’t see how the guy can be denied.”
Fortunately for Jones, who looked a bit shaky in recent fights, he can still call the shots in terms of his next move, one of the perks of being a PPV “star.” And to be fair to Blachowicz (26-8), he’s won three in a row and seven of his last eight.
I wouldn’t consider a title shot to be charity.
It also helps that “Bones” has run through the rest of the 205-pound field (see it here). In the meantime, the promotion can put Reyes in a position to get another win and something akin to what Blachowicz did at UFC Rio Rancho is likely to get “The Devastator” another crack at the light heavyweight crown.