Anthony Smith on Jon Jones: “I’m probably the only legitimate threat to him right now.”

Surging UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith believes he is the only real legitimate threat to Jon Jones right now.

“Lionheart”, who faces former division title challenger Volkan Oezdemir tonight in Moncton, recently shared his thought’s on “Bones” in an interview with MMA Fighting.

“It is really bizarre what’s going on with the division right now, but I think that it’s starting to clear up. Regardless of how you feel about Jon Jones and all the stuff that’s going on with him, the division is moving again. The title’s back in rotation and we’re starting to move around a little now, which is a good thing, regardless of how anybody feels about Jon. And I’ll never talk about Jon’s personal life — I will absolutely talk about his steroid use, but as far as his personal life, it is what it is. That’s on him.”

The former UFC light heavyweight kingpin, Jon Jones, will make his highly anticiapted octagon return at UFC 232 on December 29 in Las Vegas.

That night, “Bones” will be rematching former two-time title challenger Alexander Gustaffson for the promotions “soon to be vacant” light heavyweight title.

Anthony Smith is confident that a statement win over Volkan Oezdemir tonight in Moncton could easily translate into a future fight with Jon Jones in 2019.

“I think it’s absolute bullsh-t. But what do you do about it?” Smith said of Jones. “What do we do about it? Nothing. The competitor in me is happy that he’s back, because I 100 percent mean this and I feel it in my soul: I can beat Jon Jones. I have the ability, I have the skill, and I’m probably the only legitimate threat to him right now. And I mean that. That’s not just a sound bite — I 100 percent believe that I can beat Jon Jones. With him getting a long suspension, that kinda looks a little bit different and there’s always going to be those questions. Say I beat Volkan and then I get a title shot against Alexander Gustafsson and I beat him, you’re always going to get the Jon Jones question. I don’t want any questions.”

Anthony Smith has gone 2-0 since moving up to light heavyweight. “Lionheart” has scored first-round knockout victories over former champs Rashad Evans and Mauricio Rua in his most recent efforts.