Getty Image / Josh Hedges
Jon Jones is set to take on Ciryl Gane on March fourth as the winner will become the new Heavyweight champion. However, Francis Ngannou’s departure is hard to ignore as well.
Many were hoping for Jones to square up against Ngannou, but instead, he’ll be facing Gane.
Recently, Jon Jones revealed who he truly wanted to fight first in his heavyweight debut, and it wasn’t Ngannou. According to MMA Fighting, Jones claims he wanted to fight Stipe Miocic instead.
Here is Jon Jones explaining exactly why that is the case. “I think the fight that meant the most to me was fighting Stipe Miocic. That’s the fight that actually means the most to me because Stipe is the greatest heavyweight of all time. I’m not looking past Ciryl Gane at all. I’m very honored to fight Ciryl Gane and I knew it would be happening eventually, inevitably, but that’s the fight I was really bummed didn’t happen.”
Furthermore, Jon Jones makes his goals in the heavyweight division clear, per MMA Fighting. “My immediate goal is to beat Ciryl Gane and to beat Stipe Miocic. After that, it will just be conversations with the UFC to see what makes sense, but I’m guaranteeing the fans at least two more fights out of me.”
It should be interesting to see how Jones handles the heavyweight division. Also, we haven’t seen him in the cage for three years. His return to the UFC is highly anticipated, as he’s facing the division’s top fighters immediately. Maybe one day Francis Ngannou will become an option, but for now, the focus is on Ciryl Gane, then Stipe Miocic.