5 Opponents for Jon Jones at heavyweight in 2022

Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time. His success in the sport is impeccable and he has had very few worrying moments in the cage. The former UFC light heavyweight champion dominated his weight class for years and defeated every contender put in front of him.

After years of flirting with the idea, Jones looks like he’s finally about to make the move to heavyweight.

Jones targeted 2022 as the right time after he got acclimated to training and competing at a heavier weight. There won’t be a shortage of opponents as a win over the former light heavyweight champion would be significant. An argument could also be made that a win over Jones would be as big as winning a title.

‘Bones’ will have his work cut out for him at heavyweight and there might be some stumbles along the way. This is understandable considering that when he returns, it’ll have been two years since he last fought. This list will look at 5 possible opponents for Jon Jones at heavyweight in 2022.

#5. Jon Jones vs. Alexander Volkov

Kicking off this list of opponents for Jon Jones at heavyweight in 2022 is Alexander Volkov. The former Bellator heavyweight champion is currently the fifth-ranked heavyweight in the UFC. He is also one of the more experienced fighters in the division and remains quite active.

Volkov fought three-times in 2021 and went 2-1. He defeated former Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem by TKO and Marcin Tybura by unanimous decision. His only loss came against Ciryl Gane, who went on to become the interim UFC heavyweight champion.

Volkov would be a great challenge for Jones at heavyweight. He would have the size advantage, which hasn’t been the case for Jones throughout much of his career.

Volkov is also more of a technical striker as opposed to one who just throws haymakers. Jones vs. Volkov would be intriguing to see and one that could make sense if Volkov were to get another win.

#4. Jon Jones vs. Derrick Lewis

Another possible opponent for Jon Jones at heavyweight in 2022 is Derrick Lewis. Much like Alexander Volkov, Lewis has been active in 2021. He began the year with an impressive knockout over No.4-ranked Curtis Blaydes, which earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.

The win over Blaydes earned him a title shot and rematch against UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. However, the plans were changed and Lewis fought Ciryl Gane for the interim title instead. Lewis ended the year on a high note by knocking out Chris Daukaus on the final UFC event of 2021.

‘The Black Beast’ is a knockout artist whose 13 knockouts are the most in UFC history. In his most recent fights against Thiago Santos and Dominick Reyes, Jones got caught a few times. If Lewis connects with those same shots, it could be another knockout on his resume.

#3. Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

A possible opponent for Jones at heavyweight in 2022 is former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. A potential Jones vs. Miocic bout would be a significant bout for both of their legacies in the sport.

Jones is regarded as the greatest light heavyweight in UFC history, while Miocic is the most accomplished UFC heavyweight champion in history. Miocic defended the heavyweight championship three times, which hadn’t been done before.

A bout with Miocic would be the more lucrative route for Jones because of their accomplishments in their respective weight classes. Miocic is also a well-rounded fighter and one that doesn’t compete at the 265lbs limit. Miocic has done a great job finding the right weight to compete at, which allows him to have the most success.

The only downside of Miocic’s fighting style is that he’s often been susceptible to leg kicks. This could be an area Jones looks to exploit as he’s had success utilizing oblique kicks to find openings.

#2. Jon Jones vs. Ciryl Gane

Ciryl Gane, the interim UFC heavyweight champion and a potentially dangerous rival for Jones, has an undefeated 10-0 record. He has defeated some of the top heavyweights in the sport.

It’s hard to believe that Gane has only been in the UFC for two years. In that time, he has defeated the likes of Junior dos Santos, Alexander Volkov, and Derrick Lewis. Gane was 3-0 when he joined the UFC and has since won 7-straight fights. Gane’s win over Lewis was impressive as he managed to out-strike him on his way to a TKO win.

Gane would be a very intriguing opponent for Jones because of his striking ability. He is able to utilize his Muay Thai background and is just as agile as Jones. Depending on the outcome of Gane vs. Ngannou at UFC 270, he could be Jones’ first opponent at heavyweight.

#1. Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou

Francis Ngannou, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, is arguably the most feared striker in the sport. He has made quick work of some past heavyweight champions including Cain Velasquez, Andrei Arlovski and Junior dos Santos.

Prior to defeating Stipe Miocic, Ngannou was riding a 4-fight winning streak with all finishes coming in the first round. During that stretch of wins, Ngannou’s longest fight was 1:11, which is extraordinary. Jones would definitely have to weather the early storm and hope he doesn’t get caught.

Jones vs. Ngannou is such a fascinating matchup that it could breathe new life into the UFC’s heavyweight division. The two have gone back-and-forth on social media in the past, and it seemed like a fight being booked was inevitable.

It looks like money was a key reason why the bout never came to fruition. Should Ngannou decide to stick with the UFC next year, the dream fight could be very near.