UFC 187 is finally upon us—it’s fight week. The UFC Light Heavyweight Championship is up for grabs, but the man who became the most dominant champion in the division’s history is not defending it.
By now, most everyone has heard of Jon Jones‘ transgressions that have led to his indefinite suspension from the UFC. Jones’ issues are not settled. He has not been indicted over his alleged involvement in a hit-and-run, and there has been no court date set. These are the real issues he is facing, and they will not be resolved in short order. How that plays out in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is still to be determined.
For the UFC, those transgressions led to the organization stripping him of the gold he wore. UFC 187 will crown a new champion but perhaps not a true champion in light of how they will come to wear the title.
If and when Jones returns to action, should he get an immediate title shot? I lean toward yes, but if you delve deeper into the question, perhaps the answer is no.
Whether you agree with the suspension or not, what does it mean if Jones gets a title shot right away upon his return? He will have lost money from missing a fight or two and has defeated everyone in the top five not named Anthony Johnson, but an instant title shot rewards his return.
Taking a No. 1-contender bout would make Jones prove he is past his issues before stepping into the cage to compete for the title. The UFC should be concerned that he may fall back into the situations that led to his suspension. They may not want to take the chance of having him represent the brand as champion so soon following his suspension.
It is a realistic concern the company should have.
On the other side of the coin, it is the sporting thing to do. He never lost the belt.
No one has ever been as dominant at 205 pounds as Jon Jones. He ran through nearly everyone in his path and has only ever been in one competitive fight from start to finish. He is the reigning, defending champion in a lot of fans’ eyes. His in-cage track record should put him in the position to challenge for the belt as soon as he is ready to return to action.
There are still a lot of unknown factors surrounding Jones and his possible return. We still have no indication of when he plans to get back inside the cage. Should that play a factor? What if he is absent from the UFC for more than a year? Two years? Where is that line?
Daniel Cormier and Johnson make a good title fight with Jones on the shelf, and it is a disservice to both athletes that this black cloud will hang over the Octagon on Saturday. The winner may leave the cage as champion, but they should not be given the “undisputed” label.
Ultimately, when Jones’ suspension is lifted, the UFC needs to put him in a title fight.
It’ll be big business for the promotion. Redemption stories are interesting. Moreover, Jones has earned it on his previous merits. Jones is the lion of this division until proven otherwise inside the Octagon. If he returns, he should walk through the cage doors as the challenger in a five-round title fight with the opportunity to reclaim property he never lost.
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