Dana White says Jon Jones will get an immediate title shot if/when he returns
UFC president Dana White went on Jim Rome’s show on Wednesday to discuss UFC 187 and all things MMA. Since Saturday’s event was supposed to feature Jon Jones, the promotion’s struggling star was a natural part of the conversation.
Jones, of course, was slated to meet Anthony Johnson in the event. But after being arrested for an alleged hit-and-run in late April, the UFC stripped Jones of his light heavyweight title and suspended him indefinitely.
Now Johnson faces Daniel Cormier at UFC 187 for the vacant title and questions surround the division as to just what exactly the UFC has in store for Jones if and when he ever returns to the Octagon.
But there’s no speculation necessary as far as White and the UFC are concerned. If the pound-for-pound king returns, he will bypass any other would-be contenders and receive an immediate title shot.
“No way. He comes right back and fights for the title,” White said. “After all, Jones is one of, if not the greatest fighter to ever live. And with that title comes certain exceptions.
“He hasn’t had the time that Anderson Silva has had, but he’s the most dominant champion. If you look at the murderer’s row of the 205-pound division that he went through – and he just went through it like a hot knife through butter – he’s the man. Whenever he gets his stuff together, he’d come right back and fight for the title.”
Still, White acknowledges the importance of Saturday’s main event. With either Johnson or Cormier’s win, the 205-pound division – arguably the company’s most storied division – will see its first new champion in four years. And, yes, of course White wants to see one of his greatest assets return to the company sooner rather than later, but he admits that everything is currently up in the air regarding Jones’ future.
If Jones does eventually return, he is going to need to show the UFC that he is a changed man.
“Well, like I said, he has these legal issues and he has a civil suit against him,” White said. “He has a civil suit against him and all this other stuff. Let’s see how he gets through this and see where his head is. How does he handle himself through this situation and after it? I mean, I’ve got to see from him that he’s doing the right thing.
“Once he gets through those – he’s either going to end up with a felony or jail time. Or, a felony and jail time. So, I don’t know how this thing is going to play out. We’ll see how it goes. This Saturday is real important for us.”
What do you think? Does Bones deserve an immediate title shot if and when he returns to the UFC? Or should he be forced to re-establish himself in a division he has already conquered?
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