The UFC is facing a tough decision, cancel UFC 196 the weekend before its scheduled to occur or shift around other cards to make the PPV marketable. Their decision leans toward the later, so why not ask one of the biggest names in the sport to step in and make history?
Jon Jones has been out of action, due to suspension, for over a year now and all indications are that he’s in the best shape of his career. His new frame is more muscular than before and his training is at peak levels. It’d be an ideal time to approach Jon about moving up to heavyweight to challenge for the interim title.
We’ve seen them set the precedent for this to occur at last year’s UFC 189. McGregor was scheduled to face Jose Aldo for the featherweight title but a late scratch due to injury caused the company to create an interim belt to maintain the aura around the event. We’ve also now seen that the promotion will allow a champion to compete for a title in two weight classes simultaneously.
It sets up perfectly for the well rested Jon Jones to step in on short notice to fight Stipe Miocic, who’s also on limited notice, for the heavyweight crown. If Jon losses then he still challenges Daniel Cormier for the title at UFC 200, but if he wins there’s the possibility that you have a UFC 200 card featuring interim-heavyweight champ Jon Jones vs light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier for the LHW belt and Conor McGregor defending his featherweight title against Frankie Edgar. Did I forget to mention that McGregor may very well enter that fight as a two division champion?
Oh the possibilities!
The UFC can take the safe route and move up their lackluster co-main event to fill the void or they could take a chance at creating a historical 2016.
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