LAS VEGAS – UFC light heavyweight champ Jon “Bones” Jones (23-1, 1NC) has a lot on his mind. With just a couple of days to go before he steps in the octagon for his overdue return fight in Las Vegas at UFC’s stacked 235 card, Jones graciously fielded questions from the media during Wednesday afternoon’s Ultimate Media Day at the T-Mobile Arena.
Jones, who last fought in Vegas way back in April 2016 in a unanimous decision win over Ovince Saint Preux, said he plans to stay busier this year and permanently put his legal and drug testing mishaps behind him. He even managed to smile and stay positive through questions regarding his drug testing issues which led to the hasty relocation of his last fight against Alexander Gustafsson wherein he recaptured the 205 strap at UFC 232 in December, from Vegas to Inglewood, California just a week prior to fight night.
“Americans like a good comeback story,” Jones told members of the media gathered around him. “I’m just happy where I’m at right now. Getting drug tested like every other athlete, way more than most athletes, and it’s just a good position to be in because it shows I have nothing to hide,” he added.
Jones agreed to a more extensive drug testing protocol assessed to him by the Nevada State Athletic Commission as part of his provisional reinstatement in Nevada last January.
Jones, who still holds the distinction of being the youngest UFC champion in history back when he captured the light heavyweight belt against Shogun Rua eight years ago, is already looking past his fight against #3 ranked UFC light heavyweight Anthony Smith (31-13) and said he would like to fight two or three more times this year. Jones, who is coming in as a 12-1 betting favorite, also has his eyes set on longevity and perhaps even getting to 50-0.
“I think 50-0 is a great number. Nobody has ever done it. That puts you up there with (Floyd) Mayweather and some of the all-time greats of boxing. It would be great. Right now I’m 25-0, so I’m halfway there,” Jones said in an interview with TMZ Sports.
Jones doubled down and said he is willing to fight anyone to get to that mark. But one fight that does intrigue him more than most (as well as MMA fans), is a mega-fight with former UFC heavyweight kingpin and WWE superstar, Brock Lesnar.
When pressed to choose between a third fight against current UFC heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier and Lesnar, Jones was quick to respond. “I think me and Brock Lesnar sells more than me and DC at heavyweight.”
Jones didn’t pull any punches either in throwing shade toward his bitter nemesis. “I’d take Brock Lesnar because he brings in a whole different audience and people have already seen me make DC (Cormier) cry twice already,” Jones quipped while in the middle of the media scrum.
If the fans truly want the fight to happen, Jones believes that the UFC will make it happen. “I think what they (UFC) need to do is say ‘Bones, we got some cha-ching for you’, Conor McGregor taught me a lesson – if you want to see it bad enough, they got the money,” said Jones who was wearing a plain white T, two gold chains and a big smile.
Follow Dennis on Twitter @dRealSource.
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