It has been almost three long years’ to the day since Jon Jones last fought in the Octagon at UFC247 in Houston, Texas.
He defended his light heavyweight title with a gruelling five-round points decision over Dominic Reyes, a fight, for what its worth, I thought he lost.
Maybe that was the reason why he vacated the title some six months later and has not been seen since. After all, Jones has had a historic but chequered past with the light heavyweight title.
He won it for the first time in 2011. He defended it a record seven times before being stripped. Then won it and got stripped two more times, before winning it again and defending it three times before leaving.
Since his departure, even before, people have speculated and debated, throwing top MMA fighters in the mix alongside Jones as the greatest to ever do it.
But, well, to me anyway, nobody can stand above Mr Jones as the greatest. Don’t get me wrong, a few are in the conversation, but undoubtedly, no MMA fighter stands above him in the all-time pound-for-pound rankings.
This is the reason why the anticipation of his return is and has been huge.
This is the reason why the talk about his return has been endless, and this is the reason why the debate about who his appointment would and could be, has been non-stop.
However, the talk, debate and anticipation can stop, as it was announced that Jones will be returning to the Octagon at UFC285 against non-other than the next-best heavyweight in the division.
The mercurial talents of Cyril Gane. for the UFC heavyweight title. This just adds to the mysticism and awe of Jones. Being out for three years, returning as a heavyweight, with no tune-up fights.
He goes for the top of the pile, fighting for the title. With the departing champion Ngannou, which is both sad and disappointing to see. Not just because it has taken away a possible fight with Jones, but in general.
Although its for the title, I was surprised that Jones would agree to such a tough fight in his return. Especially for his debut up at heavyweight.
But again, this just adds to the man’s already legendary reputation and confidence. Since he’s been out of the UFC, he has been documenting his progress on social media, and to his credit, he looks like a beast.
That said, it is one thing to look good working out, but it is a whole other thing to look good fighting after a long layoff.
Not to mention fighting the next-best heavyweight around. Jones will have no time to shake off any rust, and if he is off it for even a second, Gane, who has fought six times since Jones has been gone, only losing once to Ngannou, will make Jones pay.
There are so many questions to be answered in this fight. Firstly, how good is Jones at heavyweight? How quicly will he adapt?
How much has the three-year layoff affected him? Will he be able to take Gane’s heavyweight power? After all, he is older now, is his chin the same? Will Jones come out blazing, or will he look to wrestle Gane, who had some issues against Ngannou in wrestling?
Although I wasn’t expecting Jones to take a tune-up fight in his return. I recently wrote an article about the top 10 UFC fights I was hoping to see in the next 12 months, and predicted him fighting former champ Stipe Miocic.
The former two time UFC heavyweight champion, I thought would have been a good matchup for Jones.
Although Miocic is one of the best heavyweights in UFC’s history. In my opinion, he is not as big, mobile, and versatile as Gane.
I did hear there was talk about a possible Jones vs Miocic fight, but I am certainly not upset at this Jones vs Gane fight. This will be a monumental contest with so many questions.
Make no mistake, specially after losing to Ngannou, Gane will be looking to right a wrong. He now has the experience of losing a title fight. Look what it did for Ngannou after he lost to Miocic. He went from strength to strength.
Gane certainly has the capabilities to do the same. But now you add the opponent of Jon Jones, one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in UFC history, up at heavyweight, and for the title.
How can you not get excited? The possibilites are vast. These are both two very skilled and cerebral fighters. Both have an Arsenal superior to most. Jones has the experience, but what will the three year layoff do it him, especially at heavyweight?
Gane has been active in those years and has established himself by taking out all the contenders.
But the key question is how will either respond to the others skillset? What a story it will be for Jones, on his return, in his debut at heavyweight.
But equally, what a story it would be for Gane if he takes out one of the biggest names in the sport to win his first title in the UFC.
Undoubtedly, this an extremely high-risk but extremely high-reward fight for both, but for Jones, after his long layoff, and at heavyweight for the first time.
It could be a well-thought-out, calculated, shrewd move. Or it could be an epic miscalculated nightmare…
