Jon "Bones" Jones successfully defended his UFC light heavyweight title at UFC 182 against previously undefeated Daniel Cormier, a former heavyweight standout. The victory sparked speculation of a potential move up to heavyweight to challenge Cain Velasquez; after eight straight light heavyweight title defenses perhaps the top fighter in the land needed a new challenge?
Unfortunately, Jones checked himself into rehab shortly after the Cormier victory after admitting he tested positive for cocaine in early December. That likely puts the brakes on any fights for him in the near future. When Jones returns, however, he should not jump up and face Velasquez too quickly.
Here are five reasons why.
Size
Jon Jones is a big man. He stands three inches taller than Velasquez, but fights at a weight nearly 40 pounds lighter. Even though Jones handled Cormier, who is a natural heavyweight and one of the best wrestlers in mixed martial arts, he fought him at 205 pounds. That's not a very easy cut to make. At the larger weights it's very possible that Jones would have struggled to stifle Cormier's takedown attempts.
It's hard to spot a heavyweight with more brute strength than Velasquez, and Jones would be entering his world in this matchup. Jones' supreme skill and technique may not be able to hold off a hard-charging bull without any heavyweight tune-ups.
Alexander Gustafsson
Jones still has work to be done at light heavyweight. Alexander Gustafsson gave Jones the fight of his life at UFC 165 in 2013, and was supposed to have his rematch at UFC 182 before injury robbed him of the spot.
Gustafsson now has to take a difficult fight vs. Anthony "Rumble" Johnson later this month. If he wins, he's a mortal lock to get the next crack at Jones. If he loses, his claim will be weakened, but Johnson will have ample momentum to excite fans about a title fight. Jones isn't done at 205 pounds.
Deserving Heavyweights
Jones vs. Velasquez is a moneymaker, but there are heavyweights who have worked their way up the ladder and deserve a chance to win the title first. Fabricio Werdum has won five consecutive fights and the next shot. Travis Browne, whom Werdum beat in April 2014, is another worthy candidate to fight for the gold after Werdum.
Cormier came down a weight class and had to fight his way through to Jones. Just because Jones has the glossiest name in the sport right now doesn't mean he should be granted special treatment.
UFC Is Star-Starved
While this bout could be one of the biggest in MMA history, the UFC could lose a bankable star depending on the outcome. If Velasquez fights Jones and dominates him, it makes a mockery of Jones having been the top pound-for-pound fighter for years.
If Jones rises up and outclasses Velasquez, it makes the entire crop of heavyweights who haven't been able to challenge him much look weak. It also could have a Floyd Mayweather effect on Jones' career-if the scariest heavyweight in the world couldn't touch him, what's the interest in watching his next fight? This would be too much, too soon on the business end, and the UFC is struggling for star power as it is.
What About Weidman?
Instead of taking arguably the sport's two biggest stars and putting them at risk, why not try and create a new one? Chris Weidman has run roughsod through the middleweight division, and if Anderson Silva can beat Nick Diaz in his return fight (from a broken leg vs. Weidman) he may get another title shot.
Silva is a legend, and arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, but he has already lost twice to Weidman. Convincingly. Lyoto Machida was beaten, and the rest of the fighters do not seem like credible threats. If anyone is to move up a class it may be Weidman. If he were to knock off Jones, he's be the sport's biggest star and it isn't close.
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