Jon Jones

Dominick Reyes is the latest light heavyweight in line to vie for Jon Jones' title, with the pair set to contest the main event of UFC 247 in Houston on Saturday.

Jones is one of the most dominant forces in the history of the sport. He's taken out every conceivable threat in the light heavyweight division during his career. Now he's set his sights on the undefeated Reyes, who will be trying to find a way to pierce the champion's armor.

The card boasts another title fight in the co-main event. Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian square off in the penultimate bout, with Shevchenko's flyweight belt on the line.

The main card is rounded out by two intriguing heavyweight bouts and prospect Mirsad Bektic's return from his loss to Josh Emmett.

                   

UFC 247

Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET)

• Jon Jones (c) (-450) vs. Dominick Reyes (+325) for the light heavyweight title
• Valentina Shevchenko (c) (-1400) vs. Katlyn Chookagian (+800) for the women's flyweight title
• Juan Adams (-220) vs. Justin Tafa (+180)
• Mirsad Bektic (-145) vs. Dan Ige (+115)
• Derrick Lewis (-270) vs. Ilir Latifi (+220)

               

Preliminaries (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

• Trevin Giles (-140) vs. Antonio Arroyo (+110)
• Alex Morono (-280) vs. Kalinn Williams (+230)
• Lauren Murphy (+280) vs. Andrea Lee (-360)
• Miles Johns (-135) vs. Mario Bautista (+105)

                 

Early Prelims (ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)

• Domingo Pilarte (-140) vs. Journey Newson (+110)
• Andre Ewell (-130) vs. Jonathan Martinez (+100)
• Austin Lingo (-210) vs. Yousseff Zalal (+175)

Odds via Caesars Palace.

                   

Predictions

Jones Schools Reyes

There's a school of thought out there that Reyes is the kind of athlete who could give Jones problems. After Jones narrowly won a split-decision over Thiago Santos last time out, it's conceivable that the champion has lost a step.

Reyes has some things going for him that make things interesting. He has size. At 6'4" with a 77" reach, he's the rare opponent who won't be dwarfed by Bones. His undefeated record means he comes in without the doubts that suffering a loss brings.

That's where the case ends.

At this point, Jones has muted about every argument we have seen play out in the Octagon against him. Big powerful strikers? Lyoto Machida, Vitor Belfort. Great wrestlers? Daniel Cormier, Rashad Evans. Long, rangy fighters? Alexander Gustafsson, Santos.

The list goes on.

What Reyes brings to the table isn't anything we haven't seen thrown at Jones. The great unknown for Jones remains heavyweight. Until he moves up a weight class, it's hard to predict anything other than pain for whoever crosses his path at 205.

Prediction: Jones via third-round TKO.

                   

Shevchenko Submits Chookagian

Shevchenko has lost to one woman in the UFC: Amanda Nunes.

There's no shame in that. Everyone has lost to the Lioness.

Bullet's versatility is what sets her apart. She's able to finish fight on the feet, outpoint opponents in a kickboxing match or dominate in the clinch. Her most used method of victory through her career is submission.

Chookagian is a fine striker. She generally looks to keep fighters on the outside and is technically sound enough to get the better of most fighters. But with Shevchenko's counter-striking ability, that's not going to be a viable method of victory. Instead, it's likely that Chookagian catches her with something big when she's coming in and looks to finish on the ground.

From there, Shevchenko's ground game should shine. She jumps on a rear-naked choke and gets her hand raised with the belt once again.

Prediction: Shevchenko via second-round submission.

                  

Bektic Gets Back in Win Column via Decision

The Mirsad Bektic story has been one of frustration and disappointment to this point.

At one point, Bektic was one of the most hyped prospects in the featherweight division. Three years later, he has just five fights under his belt because of injuries, and two of those resulted in TKO losses.

That includes a first-round TKO defeat to Emmett last time out.

In the other corner stands Dan Ige, a fighter who has defied expectations of late. The 28-year-old got into the UFC after a submission win on Dana White's Contender Series and lost his UFC debut to Julio Arce. Since then, he's rattled off four wins in a row.

Bektic will be the biggest challenge he's seen in the organization, though. The Bosnian is an exceptional athlete and is able to build a lead on the scorecard behind his volume. But if Bektic's chin is fading, this could be an upset. What is more likely is that he's able to utilize his wrestling and athletic advantage to get a decision victory to return to winning ways.

Prediction: Bektic via decision.

Dominick Reyes rises to the rank of light heavyweight title challenger in the main event of UFC 247, but champion Jon Jones isn't impressed. 

The promotion will set up shop in Houston for the championship fight on Saturday. The two have waged a war of words as Reyes attempts to build himself as someone who could possibly put an end to Bones' reign over the division. 

The feuding 205ers aren't the only ones vying for a title on the card. Valentina Shevchenko is slated to defend her flyweight belt against Katlyn Chookagian in the co-main event. 

Elsewhere on the card, Derrick Lewis returns to the cage to welcome Ilir Latifi to the heavyweight division. The fan-favorite will look to continue his momentum after picking up a decision over Blagoy Ivanov in his last bout. 

Here's a look at the complete offering for the card and some of the hype going into the event. 

        

Tickets: StubHub

Main Card (ESPN+ PPV, 10 p.m. ET)

• Jon Jones (c) (-450) vs. Dominick Reyes (+325) - Light Heavyweight Championship Fight
• Valentina Shevchenko (c) (-1400) vs. Katlyn Chookagian (+800) - Women's Flyweight Championship Fight
• Juan Adams (-220) vs. Justin Tafa (+180)
• Mirsad Bektic (-145) vs. Dan Ige (+115)
• Derrick Lewis (-270) vs. Ilir Latifi (+220)

Preliminaries (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET)

• Trevin Giles (-140) vs. Antonio Arroyo (+110)
• Alex Morono (-280) vs. Kalinn Williams (+230)
• Lauren Murphy (+280) vs. Andrea Lee (-360)

Early Prelims (ESPN+, 6:15 p.m. ET)

• Miles Johns (-135) vs. Mario Bautista (+105)
• Domingo Pilarte (-140) vs. Journey Newson (+110)
• Andre Ewell (N/A) vs. Jonathan Martinez (N/A)

Odds via Caesars.

          

Jones Mocks Reyes' Talk of Athleticism

At this point, there isn't much of a selling point for any contender facing Jones. He's dismantled striking specialists, grapplers, tall opponents, short opponents, knockout artists and grinders. There isn't a style matchup in the light heavyweight division he hasn't already seen.

Reyes, however, contends that Jones is going to see a different level of athlete on Saturday. 

The 30-year-old was an NFL hopeful after playing safety at Stony Brooke University. He believes the athleticism found in traditional sports is beyond what is required of a mixed martial artist. 

"I was speaking on being a traditional athlete: baseball, football, basketball, track and field. Those sports are different than being a martial artist," he said, per Tristen Critchfield of Sherdog. "They require a different amount of athleticism and focus. If you don't understand it, then you don't understand it."

Jones—who has two brothers with NFL careers—isn't buying it. 

Beating up on cans has got him convinced he’s a better athlete than most of the world. If he was so badass he would’ve won the California state wrestling championships, he would’ve went division one, He would have at least made a practice squad for the NFL. This man is delusional

— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) February 3, 2020

In terms of MMA, Reyes is a good athlete. He has explosive power and is quick for his size. But it doesn't stand out as a strength against Jones who himself is a powerful athlete. It doesn't translate to one-strike knockout power for Bones most of the time, but watch him ragdoll opponents in the clinch and say he's not athletic. 

Reyes is selling a fight. Despite an undefeated record and a convincing win over Chris Weidman, he's far from a household name. 

Until it actually happens, it's unwise to pick against the champion against anyone at 205. An eventual move to heavyweight might change things but right now its Jones versus whoever.

Prediction: Jones via third-round TKO

           

Shevchenko Only Focused on Chookagian

Shevchenko comes into Saturday's card as the biggest favorite. That's saying something on a bill that features Jones. 

But that's the state of affairs already in the women's flyweight division. Shevchenko has defended her belt twice since winning it from Joanna Jedrzejczyk in December 2018. Already, it feels like the biggest fights for her are outside of 125 pounds. 

The 31-year-old insists that's coming from the fans at this point, though. 

"First of all, I'm focused on my fight this Saturday," Shevchenko said, per Nolan King of MMA Junkie. "I'm not thinking about any further fights. I put everything I have inside of me toward this Saturday for this fight. Second, superfights against who? I don't know. Amanda Nunes? Weili (Zhang)? Henry Cejudo? Against who? I don't think this is the right moment to think about this right now."

Chookagian is another fighter who has migrated to flyweight after a run at bantamweight. She has won four of her last five since dropping down to 125 in January 2018. Her split-decision loss to Jessica Eye is the only blemish on her UFC ledger in the weight class. 

Shevchenko, on the other hand, hasn't lost as a flyweight in her entire career. Her only defeats under the UFC banner have come to Nunes, who is clearly the best fighter in all of women's MMA. 

Chookagian has some good performances to her name, but she isn't on Shevchenko's level. 

Prediction: Shevchenko via second-round submission

Leading up to his first title defense of 2020, UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones believes he should be considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. 

Appearing on ESPN's First Take, Bones compared his overall body of work to undefeated UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov:

"I think Khabib's an amazing fighter. He's done a great job representing UFC. He's a great ambassador for our sport. But if you were to ask some MMA experts about myself and Khabib, I think most people would be able to tell our resumes are completely different. I've fought so many world champions that I've defeated. Khabib, a lot of his victories are against a lot of people that are relatively unknown. I've been fighting legends since I was a young man."

ESPN's pound-for-pound rankings have both stars tied for first as Jones prepares to fight Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 on Saturday night in Houston. 

Nurmagomedov owns a 28-0 career record (12-0 in the UFC) and has held the lightweight crown since April 2018 when he defeated Al Iaquinta. 

Jones' record of 25-1 (one no-contest) is impressive. His lone defeat was on a disqualification for illegal elbows against Matt Hamill in 2009. The 32-year-old's resume includes multiple failed drug tests, including one for turinabol after his UFC 214 win over Daniel Cormier that caused the result to be overturned to a no-contest. 

Since returning to the Octagon after a 17-month layoff in December 2018, Jones has won all three of his fights. His dominance in the 205-pound weight class has led to calls for him to try the heavyweight division. 

Jones once again teased moving up in weight on First Take, saying: "In order to put a lot of this pound-for-pound or 'who's the greatest' to rest, I'm gonna have to maybe obtain a second belt in a different weight class. I think that would really set me apart from a lot of guys. The move's inevitable."

When Jones' bout with Reyes was announced in December, he told reporters that fighting at heavyweight was a "very strong possibility" at some point in 2020. 

Jones recently told ESPN's Ariel Helwani, "I really want to fight [heavyweight champion] Stipe Miocic." 

Miocic is expected to return at some point this year after he suffered retina injuries due to inadvertent eye pokes from Daniel Cormier in their matchup at UFC 241. 

Assuming Jones beats Reyes (12-0, 7 KOs), he could challenge himself by taking on the best heavyweight fighter UFC has to offer in his next bout.  

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the world of MMA.

    

Jorge Masvidal Wants Conor McGregor, Says Notorious Would be "Melted"

BMF title-holder Jorge Masvidal talked up a possible fight with former two-weight champion Conor McGregor during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show (h/t MMA Fighting) and said people would feel sorry for the Irishman once he's done with him:

"He gets melted. What the world is looking for him is for him to suffer and get chastised for some of the things that he's done in public.

"Everybody's going to feel sorry for him after the fight, I can tell you that much. They'll forgive him all after the fight, I can promise you that. This baptism's gonna be a little extra for Mr. Conor. ...

"... And of course I'd like to fight Conor. Not just because he brings in a lot of cash and eyeballs to the sport, but he's a two-time champion. He's one of the few to do it, and he did it in outstanding fashion. Both guys that he defeated for the belt, he did it with no pressure, no resistance, nothing. So it would be an honor to fight with him."

The 35-year-old had the best year of his UFC run in 2019, earning high-profile stoppage wins over Darren Till, Ben Askren and Nate Diaz. The latter earned him the BMF title, which gives him plenty of leverage going into the new year.

He could be in line for a shot at champion Kamaru Usman―a fight he also talked about―but the returning McGregor would generate even greater buzz for Gamebred, who has never been more popular.

A card headlined by the two would likely do well at the box office, even if only the BMF title is on the line.

   

Dana White Talks "Crucial" Donald Cerrone Fight for McGregor

Before McGregor can turn his gaze toward Masvidal or a rematch with Khabib Nurmagomedov, he'll have to navigate Donald Cerrone at UFC 246 on January 18. UFC President Dana White went on the Stephen A. Smith Show (h/t MMA Mania's Dan Hiergesell) to talk about the challenge:

"He has been training hard. He has been getting ready for this moment. The problem is, Stephen A., you've seen this—not just in fighting, but in other sports when a guy has 100-and-something million dollars, he's young, he's famous, and now he is unbelievably rich. It is hard to keep the train on the tracks for some guys. That has definitely been Conor McGregor.

"I think he is at a point now where he realizes he needs to get his act together. This win over 'Cowboy' Cerrone, if he can pull it off, is crucial in his career right now and his future. So he is taking it very serious—he wants to stay active. That is why this fight is at 170, and hopefully we will get three good fights from him this year."

McGregor has fought just once in the UFC since 2016: a losing bid against Nurmagomedov at UFC 229. He's looking to fight three times in 2020, and with his high profile, two good wins should be enough to put him back in title contention.

Cerrone has lost his last two fights after winning four of his previous five. The 36-year-old is a well-rounded MMA fighter, but he is starting to show his age. He should present a challenge, but it's one the Notorious should overcome without too many problems.

Both are currently ranked inside the top-five contenders of the lightweight division. Tony Ferguson and Dustin Poirier separate McGregor from the champion, Nurmagomedov.

   

Jon Jones Wanted Stipe Miocic, Could Move up to Heavyweight in 2020

Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has teased a move up to the heavyweight division for some time, and per Damon Martin of MMA Fighting, he wanted to fight Stipe Miocic before the latter's trilogy bout against Daniel Cormier was confirmed: "I was trying to get a Stipe Miocic fight. I thought that maybe it would happen, but instead we have Stipe-DC 3. But at the moment I was so ready to go to heavyweight and stick my hands in with some of those big fellas."

He also talked about potentially moving up in 2020:

"After this Thiago Santos fight, I was at a place where I wanted to start entertaining the heavyweight division. I've been wrestling with my brother my whole life. I've been going with Andrei Arlovski and [Alistair] Overeem and all these big guys my whole career, and I've always done well. At 240 [pounds], I move just as well as I do at light heavyweight. My versatility, I realize, is not things most heavyweights would do: spinning things, flying knees, things like that. I feel really good.

"The time is going to be really close. I wouldn't be surprised if it happened in 2020. I was 240 not that long ago. Right now, I'm living with my nutritionist, and I've built a home gym in my garage, and I feel really, really good right now. I'm 230 with a six pack."

Jones will defend his title against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 on February 8. He beat Anthony Smith and Thiago Santos earlier this year, and with no big-name challengers in the light heavyweight division remaining, a move to heavyweight seems likely.

The third fight between Miocic and Cormier hasn't been booked yet, but even if Jones has to wait for a title shot, there are other intriguing bouts to be made.

Francis Ngannou has won three in a row, while Junior dos Santos and Curtis Blaydes will clash at UFC Fight Night 166 on January 25. The winner would be in a good position to welcome Bones to the division.

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has made it clear he would prefer to take on Dominick Reyes in his next fight, not Corey Anderson.

The 32-year-old took to Twitter to explain that, after analysing the duo, it is Reyes he sees as the bigger challenge:

Just finished a coaches meeting studying Dominick and Cory‘s careers. Established Dominicks definitely the more dangerous fighter. Beating his ass next 🦁

— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) November 7, 2019

Reyes, 29, is undefeated in 12 fights in his professional MMA career.

Most recently, he knocked out Chris Weidman in the first round of their Boston clash on October 18 in his debut at light heavyweight.

Anderson, meanwhile, knocked out Johnny Walker after two minutes, seven seconds at UFC 244 in New York on Saturday.

The 30-year-old, who is 13-4 in his MMA career, believes Walker's profile means he should get his shot at Jones before Reyes:

Light heavyweight contender @CoreyA_MMA makes his case to get next title shot over fellow contender Dominick Reyes.

Who should fight Jon Jones next?

Watch full video: https://t.co/72nvmrjWxJ #UFC244 pic.twitter.com/Tfe7cJ316a

— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) November 4, 2019

Jones, 32, has three wins in succession since he was stripped of his light heavyweight title in 2017 after testing positive for the steroid turinabol.

The American stopped Alexander Gustafsson in the third round at UFC 232 in December 2018, won by unanimous decision against Anthony Smith at UFC 235 back in March and beat Thiago Santos via split decision at UFC 239 in July, his 13th UFC title fight victory.