Jon Jones no longer has any interest in facing heavyweight champ Cain Velasquez
For several years, UFC champion Jon Jones said a move to heavyweight was inevitable and only a matter of time before he challenged the best of the best in the division above his current home at 205 pounds.
Lately, however, Jones has found a slew of contenders all jumping in line for a shot at his light heavyweight belt and it's changed his perspective on the future.
While a bout against heavyweight wrecking machine Cain Velasquez seems like another mythical super fight, Jones has moved past that notion and is instead focused on a long career at light heavyweight instead.
"I have no interest in that at this point," Jones said when asked about facing Velasquez. "There's a lot of great competition for me to test myself against. Glover Teixeira obviously being first on that agenda. What a great challenge he will be."
Jones faces Teixeira in the main event of this weekend's UFC 172 card in Baltimore. If he's successful on Saturday night, Jones will then move onto a rematch against Alexander Gustafsson later this year after he secured the No. 1 contender's spot in March.
There's also two-time Olympian Daniel Cormier, who is now lurking around the corner after an undefeated run at heavyweight before making the drop to 205 pounds this year. Phil Davis, another top five ranked fighter, is competing on the same card this weekend and he's been quick to point out his desire to face Jones lately as well.
All told, what was once looking like a barren division after Jones ran roughshod over a slew of top contenders and former champions, is now flourishing with competition once again.
"People are interested in rematches, I've got Phil Davis saying he's going to crumble me like a cookie. Lots of competition for me and I'm ready to meet them all," Jones said.
First up is the challenge awaiting him this weekend from Glover Teixeira and then Alexander Gustafsson. The heavyweight division will just have to move on without Jones, and the idea of another super fight falls by the wayside.
