Is Jones Just Playing Games?

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A few days ago, Jon Jones revealed that he’d be vacating his Light Heavyweight title after negotiations with Dana White and Co. to get a pay raise went south in a hurry. Since then, however, not much movement has been made on that front, as UFC officials have yet to officially announce the move.

White, however, doesn’t seem too bothered, saying “Bones” can go ahead and retire if that’s his decision.

But not everybody is buying Jon’s proclamation to leave his belt behind. Among them is Jan Blachowicz, who was in line to face “Bones” for the strap before COVID-19 put the sport on pause.

“I’m just a little bit tired of this situation,” Blachowicz told MMA Fighting. “I’m just waiting. He’s not quitting. He’s not going to retire. I think this is his game to make more money and this is it. But we will see what the UFC will do. I’m just waiting for the UFC moves and that’s it. We will see.

“If he quits, then I hope my next fight will be for the title against Dominick Reyes. This is my next scenario if he quits but I don’t believe that. I’m still waiting for him.”

While Jan doesn’t believe “Bones” will actually follow through on his claim to leave his spot as champ, he does understand to a certain point Jon’s frustrations about wanting to get more cash for his services.

“Everybody wants big money,” Blachowicz said. “I understand that. We do this for money and for fun, also. It’s a job but everybody who is doing this loves doing this. But you also want to make big money on this business. I understand everything that they do,” he added.

“I think he’s just playing games. He wants to make bigger money and I don’t believe he will quit. But if he quits, Dominick Reyes is also a perfect opponent for me.”

Winner of three straight, Blachowicz made his case for his first-ever UFC title fight by knocking out Corey Anderson in the very first round earlier this year (see it again here). Overall, the Polish bruiser has won seven of eight, including big wins over Jimi Manuwa, Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo Souza.

Should Jones follow through, Blachowicz has no qualms in facing Dominick Reyes for the vacant belt.