Jon Jones

UFC CEO Dana White has revealed when the organization's current heavyweight champion Jon Jones will return to the octagon and fight former promotion's featherweight champion Stipe Miocic.

"Yes, his next opponent will be Stipe and right now Jon is just asking, probing the ground to see what people think, but he knows he has a fight with Stipe. As for Stipe's statement that the fight will take place in New York, yes - it's true," - said the functionary at a press conference held after the tournament UFC On ESPN 56.

Recall, earlier Jones said that after the fight with Miocic, he may meet in the octagon with Alex Pereira, the light heavyweight champion.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Janson expressed his opinion that Stipe Miocic is capable of knocking out the promotion's heavyweight division titleholder Jon Jones.

"Stipe will be the first one to beat him. I just think Jon may not have a strong enough chin judging by the way he fights. Because of his style, it's hard for people to get close enough to deliver a powerful punch to him.

His whole game is about poking his fingers in his eyes and hitting knee kicks without letting you get close. He keeps you at arm's length when he wants to. But Stipe is taller, and his arms are longer than most people John has had to fight. I don't think Jones' style will work in a fight with Miocic," MMA Fighting quoted Jackson as saying.

Jon Jones, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, has spoken extensively about his bout with Tom Aspinall, the promotion's interim featherweight champion.

"Agree that his behavior is selfish. This guy - a perfectly healthy interim champion who is only 30 years old - is sitting around waiting for an opportunity to fight the winner of a fight between a 42-year-old man and a 36-year-old man. No one is stopping anyone, I'm on a mission. My goal is to make the fight with Stipe. But you're suggesting that I should neglect all the training I've been doing in the run-up to this fight and fight this "hype train" who may not be in the league in three years! I'm not going to change my plans because of anyone. Stipe is the best heavyweight to ever step into the octagon. My job is to give this guy what he wants and take his scalp to my collection. Whatever happens next, our fight will happen. Besides, I was talking about ending my career after the Stipe fight long before the UFC introduced the interim belt. And nothing would have changed if Sergey had it. I love that the Brits have convinced themselves that Jon Jones is afraid of their interim champion. It's opened up a whole new fan base for me. They all know who the real champion is."

Ben Askren, former Bellator and ONE champion and former UFC fighter, has spoken out about a possible fight between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira.

"People would be interested in seeing that fight. If Alex were to have a bout with Aspinall, he would probably have to stop a few of the takedowns. Fans are curious to see what Alex is like in wrestling, if he can defend against translations. After all, if you don't have those skills, Jones is just going to transfer you and sub you out. We saw Pereira get transferred by Izzy. He stayed underneath him for a significant portion of the time.... Let's say their fight with Jones does happen. I think it would be over in two minutes in the octagon. Look at what Jon did to Cyril Gunn. Jon is a big man, a high-level fighter, he has great grappling skills. It's a very likely outcome," Askren was quoted as saying by Middle Easy.

Jan Blachowicz believes Jon Jones, the former UFC bantamweight champion, moved up to heavyweight to avoid fighting him.

"I'm a heavyweight now, so moving up to heavyweight is easy. I'd like to see Jones fight against (Tom) Aspinall, (Alex) Pereira and me. He escaped to heavyweight because I was in my prime when he left [the welterweight division]. He knew if he met me, he was going to lose. It was his best decision to move up to heavyweight. He promised me that fight, so that's what I'm hoping for - maybe someday. Maybe not in the gym, but somewhere in my backyard," Blachowicz told Fanatics View.