Jon Jones Can Return to UFC in Oct.; Already Favored in Rumored Fights with Cormier, Lesnar
- Jon Jones’ PED case has been decided.
- The former light-heavyweight champion is eligible to return to fighting on Oct. 28, 2018.
- Online betting sites have already posted odds on potential matchups with Daniel Cormier and Brock Lesnar.
Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones will be eligible to return to the octagon on October 28, 2018. Arguably the greatest pound for pound fighter of his generation, Jones had been suspended since July 2017 due to a positive PED test (turinabol) at UFC 214, his second such suspension.
Initially, when Jones’ case went to arbitration, the USADA had been seeking a four-year ban. But after Jones offered the USADA “substantial assistance” in bringing others to justice, it reduced that ask to 18 months, and the arbitrator wound up imposing a 15-month ban. Since the ban is retroactive to last July, it will expire this October.
Jon Jones has received a 15-month retroactive suspension from USADA. He is free to resume his career on Oct. 28, 2018.
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 19, 2018
UFC president Dana White has already said that he expects Jones to fight in the UFC in 2019.
“[Jones will] probably fight early next year … [against] one of the best fighters in the world.” — Dana White on ESPN’s First Take.
That’s plenty to go on for online sportsbooks, and odds on two potential Jon Jones mega-fights, with the stipulation that they must take place in 2019 for action.
Jon Jones vs Daniel Cormier
| FIGHTER | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jon Jones | -225 |
| Daniel Cormier | +175 |
It’s not hard to see why Jones would enter this one as big chalk. Jones and Cormier have already met twice in the octagon and, both times, Jones left with his hand raised.
In January 2015, Bones earned a unanimous decision in a bout that won Fight of the Night honors at UFC 182. Then, last July, Jones KOed Cormier with a head kick/punches (jump to 2:40 mark in video below), but was subsequently stripped of the win because of the positive drug test.
Since that time, Cormier’s star has risen and he now holds both the heavyweight and light-heavyweight title belts. The losses to Jones remain the only blemishes on his 23-1-1 MMA record.
Some anticipated that he’d be eager to avenge those setbacks, but after hearing the news of Jones’ reinstatement, Cormier responded like a man who doesn’t think he can beat Jones.
Daniel Cormier reacts to Jon Jones verdict, possible third fight: ‘I’ve moved past that’ https://t.co/vx1LF4mkDW pic.twitter.com/ff4ZTvE4hR
— MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) September 20, 2018
Cormier also stated that, “I have a bigger fight with Brock Lesnar. Why would I look back?”
But does he? The rumored Cormier vs Lesnar match hasn’t been booked yet, and now that Jones is effectively back on the UFC roster, Dana White may see an option for an even bigger moneymaker: Jones vs Lesnar. And that just happens to be the second fight that was posted in the last 24 hours.
Jon Jones vs Brock Lesnar
| FIGHTER | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jon Jones | -350 |
| Brock Lesnar | +265 |
Jones is positioned as an even bigger favorite against Lesnar than against DC.
Unlike with Cormier, Jones has no history with Brock Lesnar. Jones has also never fought at heavyweight, and there’s no way Lesnar is making the cut to 205.
That doesn’t mean the fight won’t happen, though, nor does it mean Lesnar would have much of a chance.
The UFC’s ratings have been down in recent years as the promotions biggest names (Jones, Lesnar, Conor McGregor, Georges St-Pierre, etc.) have either retired, taken an extended hiatus, or moved onto other endeavors.
Lesnar’s potential matchup with Cormier for the heavyweight title would undoubtedly do decent PPV numbers. But Cormier, himself, has never been a major seller, whereas Lesnar and Jones both have the name recognition to carry a card themselves.
Whomever Lesnar fights in his comeback attempt, whether it’s Jones or Cormier, he’s going to be a big underdog. He hasn’t fought since July 2016, he’s now over 40, and he also lost two of his last three in the cage. In sum, there’s a good chance that the UFC only gets one Brock Lesnar bullet. They know this all too well, and there’s a decent chance they use it in a way that garners the biggest possible return on investment.
Who would you most like to see Jones face in his return to the octagon? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter.
Sascha was a hockey player in his youth, a lawyer in his capricious mid-20s, and has been with SBD since 2014. He specializes in football, basketball, politics, baseball, and hockey.
