Jon Jones explains why he’d prefer Brock Lesnar fight to ‘DC’ rematch

If Jon Jones is able to defeat Anthony Smith in the main event of UFC 235 this weekend — the oddsmakers certainly believe he will — it will open the door to more marquee matchups in the light heavyweight division, and perhaps even the heavyweight division.

Arguably the two biggest matchups available for a victorious Jones going forward would be a rematch with his arch rival, heavyweight champ Daniel Cormier, and a showdown with former heavyweight champ and WWE star Brock Lesnar.

When asked which of these fights he’d prefer, Jon Jones proclaimed that a fight with Lesnar would be his preference. He’s already fought Cormier twice previously, and believes a fight with Lesnar would bring in a whole new audience of fans.

“I’d take Brock Lesnar,” Jones told MMA Junkie. “I’d take Brock Lesnar because he brings in a whole different audience and people have already seen me make ‘DC’ cry twice already. I’ve got nothing against that guy. Let him have his heavyweight dominance.”

Jon Jones last fought in December, when he returned from a lengthy USADA-induced hiatus to rematch his long-time rival Alexander Gustafsson for the vacant light heavyweight belt. Jones won this fight via third-round TKO, reasserting himself as the true champion of the division he’s cast a shadow over for so long. Unfortunately, this fight was steeped in controversy, as trace amounts of the banned substance turinabol showed up repeatedly in Jones’ pre-fight drug tests.

The champ’s next most recent fight occurred all the way back in July of 2017, when he knocked out Cormier to reclaim the light heavyweight belt. Regrettably, it was subsequently announced that he’d failed a drug test, which caused his win to be overturned, and the title to be returned to Cormier.

If Jon Jones wins at UFC 235, who do you want to see him fight next?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 2/28/2019.