“I decided maybe I will not ͏r͏etire. ͏I have some conversations to h͏ave͏ with D͏ana (White),” said ͏Jon Jones d͏u͏ring his ͏post-fight speech at Madison Square Garden f͏or UF͏C 309͏. The͏ reigning heavyweight champion of͏ the͏ ͏wor͏l͏d p͏reviously hint͏ed͏ tha͏t he might re͏tire a͏fter his f͏ight a͏ga͏i͏nst Stipe Miocic a͏t UFC 309.͏ However, it now appears that Jones has had a change of heart. With h͏is retirement plans seemingl͏y͏ on h͏old, ͏one big ques͏tion loom͏s: Who will͏ he ͏fight ne͏xt,͏ and ͏where͏? As this question sparks͏ ͏discussion͏ across the MMA world, a former opponent of Jo͏nes has stepped forward to offer an ͏answer.

While talking with Chael Sonnen on ‘Good Guy/ Bad Guy’, Daniel Cormier emphasized Jon Jones’ obligation to fight Tom Aspinall, as Dana White is hellbent on making that clash happen. The former dual weight champion stated that ‘Bones’ has all the cards in his favor, considering that he is the division champion and one of the sport’s biggest stars. Well, he might face Aspinall next, but where?

Daniel Cormier further added that Jon Jones has fought around every major city in the US except one, “When I look at the calendar and see how the last two years have worked… Miami… Miami would be right. He had Vegas, beautiful, but he’s done that. He had New York for the first time. It felt like a star was headlining the Garden. Miami, we had Izzy. We had O’Malley. Miami is a great city for fights. Why not Jon Jones in Miami?”

Chael Sonnen liked the idea of having their biggest star fight at Miami, also known as ‘Magic City’. “I love the idea, is Miami on the calendar,” said Chael Sonnen. Responding to his question, Cormier emphasized that the promotion holds an event in Miami every year, “I don’t know if it’s there yet – it’s just it’s kind of become like a thing we do every year in April.” J͏on Jones emphasized that he would love to fight for fun ͏rather than under pressure. Add͏i͏tionally, ͏Jo͏n͏es has expressed hi͏s inter͏est in clashin͏g w͏ith Alex Pereira,͏ Jamahal H͏ill, and De͏rri͏ck Lewis. To book a fight ͏agains͏t T͏om ͏Aspinall, the UF͏C would nee͏d to play their card͏s right͏, which ͏coul͏d work in favor of ͏’Bones.’

Interestingly, Jon Jones’s longtime coach, Brandon Gibson stated that they would be happy if Jones retires from the sport currently without fighting anybody, “So, if he wants to compete, great. But, also, there’s a big part of me that, like, if they can’t come to terms on a negotiation or a deal, I’m just fine with that being Jon’s last performance. Yeah, and I know Jones is too,” Things are a bit confusing as of now. Despite all this, Francis Ngannou has come forward to defend Jon Jones’s stance.

Francis Ngannou unexpectedly comes in support of Jon Jones amidst ducking allegation

The MMA community can be a bit too harsh if things don’t play out according to their taste and Jon Jones is facing the wrath of the same community that considers him the GOAT of the sport. ‘Bones’ has time and time again emphasized that he would not like to face Tom Aspinall considering the fact that the fight doesn’t add anything to his illustrious legacy. This statement has led fans to call out Jones, accusing him of ducking Aspinall out of fear of losing.

Well, as the entire MMA media is cornering Jon Jones for answers, Francis Ngannou has come forward to support the heavyweight champion, “They [the UFC] use that in the negotiation to say ‘Oh no he doesn’t want to fight this guy, he’s scared,’ and then that’s how the machine works. And I think he’s [Jones] in the position to claim, like, what he wants,” said Ngannou.

He further added, “As he said, Aspinall needs that fight, I don’t need it. And when you look at it, [its] pretty much true. There’s nothing that he’s going to make, have more in winning that fight, if it’s not money, you know. But for Aspinall, who is someone coming and trying to cement his way in the division, that would be everything.”

Francis Ngannou argues that the fight might make perfect sense for the MMA community but in Jon Jones’ case, it doesn’t make any sense because Aspinall is a rising star while on the other hand, ‘Bones’ is an established star. Regardless, what’s your take on Jon Jones’s situation? State your thoughts in the comments below.