Jon Jones on UFC 252: I’ll be heavyweight champion ‘very soon’

Over the past few years, Jon Jones managed make himself relevant enough among UFC heavyweights. His name was thrown into the mix against that of Cain Velasquez, Stipe Miocic, and most recently, Francis Ngannou.

Currently shelved after a publicized rift with the UFC and company president Dana White, “Bones” kept a close eye on UFC 252’s main event fight on Saturday between Stipe Miocic and old foe Daniel Cormier. The reigning light heavyweight champion even did a short live-tweeting session as the bout took place.

And after seeing what the division’s two elite fighters can bring to the table, Jones is liking his chances. He is even confident enough to get to the top of the heavyweight mountain “real soon.”

Cormier’s coach Javier Mendez expects UFC 252’s winner to be granted a “big money fight” against Jones. But as far as Dana White is concerned, someone else is more deserving of the next title shot.

“Francis is definitely next,” White told the media during the post-fight presser. “You can’t jump over Francis. Francis has been out there destroying everybody. And if you look at how long ago it was that he got that title shot, he’s worked his way back.

“It belongs to Francis Ngannou. But yeah, Jon Jones going to heavyweight is very interesting.”

After his two losses in 2018, Ngannou bounced back big time with a four-fight win streak. All of those victories ended by first-round knockout, the most recent one against Jairzinho Rozenstruik at UFC 249 in May.

As for Jones, he is coming off a controversial unanimous decision win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 last February.