Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
Jones seems to be considering a return to light heavyweight now that Jan Blachowicz is holding his 205 pound title.
What’s up with Jon Jones these days? Is he going to heavyweight or is a light heavyweight return in the cards?
That was the question reporters had for UFC president Dana White following UFC 253, which saw Jan Blachowicz claim the vacant 205 pound title with a solid second round knockout win over Dominick Reyes (watch the highlights here).
“You guys know as much as I know about Jon Jones,” White claimed at the post-event press conference.
Whether it’s true that White hasn’t bothered to actually check in with the top GOAT contender or this is more ‘lies’ as Conor McGregor puts them is unclear. Perhaps Jon Jones doesn’t even know at this point, because he’s certainly implied both recently.
Following Blachowicz’s win over Reyes, Jones congratulated the new Polish champion before suggesting he just might go back for his belt.
Jan enjoy my friend, congratulations
— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 27, 2020
Would you guys be annoyed if I went back and grabbed my belt real quick?
— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 27, 2020
Lol yeah sure bud https://t.co/jugnCdZGOc
— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 27, 2020
Blachowicz didn’t sound particularly impressed with Jones’ commentary on Twitter, firing off this response:
Go be boring somewhere else. https://t.co/ptm17lpuSv
— Jan Blachowicz (@JanBlachowicz) September 27, 2020
And while White wasn’t willing to tip his hand on what was going on behind the scenes with the often troubled superstar “Bones,” he did give Jan props for calling out Jones following his win and suggest he’d give the former long time light heavyweight champ a shot at his old title should that be what he really desired.
“I like that he wants to fight Jon,” White said. “You know he could have called out whoever the next contender is and the fact that these guys respect Jones enough and and the fact that they want to be the guy who beats the guy, I love it.”
“Obviously if Jon Jones wanted that fight, we wouldn’t deny Jon Jones the the opportunity.”
If it’s not Jones next, then White confirmed Blachowicz would end up facing the winner of the upcoming Thiago Santos vs. Glover Teixeira fight that has just been rebooked (for a third time) on November 7th. The past two attempts to have that fight come together have been nixed by positive COVID-19 tests, first for Glover and then for Thiago.
Antibodies permitting, that seems like the most likely case as whatever financial dispute that has stopped Jon Jones from returning thus far doesn’t seem to have been resolved recently.