UFC legend Jon Jones is hoping to end his Hall of Fame fight career against Tyson Fury.
‘Bones’ dominated the UFC’s light-heavyweight division for a decade before returning from a three-year hiatus to capture the heavyweight crown with a quick submission win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March.
Through the years, the 35-year-old has proved his credentials with several high-profile wins over MMA legends who were simply no match for his unique fighting ability.
Most famously, Jones left former champion Lyoto Machida in a heap on the floor when he locked up a standing guillotine submission and put him to sleep at UFC 140 in December 2011.
After dropping Machida to the ground, the American wheeled away in celebration only to be controversially told by his coach, Greg Jackson, to console his opponent and ‘win some fans’.
However, Jones’ most divisive moments as a UFC star came during his intense rivalry with Daniel Cormier which still rears its ugly head years on from ‘DC’ announcing his retirement.
The UFC superstar failed drug tests and brawled with Cormier at a press conference before getting the last laugh in their feud at UFC 214 in July 2017.
After previously beating his biggest rival over five rounds, Jones proved he was the better man when he caught Cormier with a head kick and followed it up with strikes to get the finish inside three rounds.
Post-fight, Cormier burst into tears in a moment his nemesis has poked fun at over the years, but ultimately the result was expunged from both fighters’ records after Jones failed another drug test.
With Cormier long retired and the heavyweight division lacking stars following Francis Ngannou’s UFC exit, Jones is contemplating retirement after he faces MMA icon Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden later this year.
Now, he appears to be setting up a potential crossover fight with Fury.
‘The Gypsy King’ took to social media to fire shots at UFC legend Joe Rogan who recently predicted that Jones would easily handle the WBC heavyweight champion in a no holds barred fight.
Jones used the brewing beef to try to set up a fight with Fury by inviting him to get in touch with the UFC president Dana White to arrange the biggest crossover bout since Floyd Mayweather vs Conor McGregor in 2017.
“Hey Tyson, it seem like Joe may have struck a nerve,” he tweeted.
“I’ll admit there’s no one touching you in that ring right now, but let’s not let that confuse you with what would happen if you stepped foot in my cage.
“If you ever want to put some of those questions you got going on to rest, give Dana a call. I’ll help you out.”
Fury, who has previously expressed an interest in trying his luck in MMA, distanced himself from a UFC debut and instead invited Jones into the squared circle where he is unbeaten after 34 fights.
“I see Jon Jones has piped up, Jon you’re talking about me in the cage. I’m not a cage fighter mate I’m a boxer, the best boxer actually,” Fury fired back.
“If you want to come into a boxing ring and fight me, be my guest, and let me know. You don’t have to call anybody else, no dramas, nobody.
“You call me because it’s a boxing fight and I’m the boss in this gym, me. You’re a great fighter Jon, but you’re no boxer that’s for sure. All the best and good luck.”
Now that his UFC career is coming to an end, Jones may well take Fury up on his offer and join his former colleagues Nate Diaz, Vitor Belfort, and Anderson Silva in the world of boxing.
First things first, he’s still got to defend his heavyweight title against Miocic and weigh up potential clashes with top contenders Sergei Pavlovich and Tom Aspinall.
