Jon Jones (image via Twitter/UFC)

By FCF Staff

Although Jon Jones prompted discussion about what a fight with him and Alex Pereira might look like, Dana White insists the UFC is still planning for “Bones” to face Stipe Miocic next.

Recently, the heavyweight champ asked via social media if he should fight interim champ, Tom Aspinall or Pereira, following an expected bout with Miocic. Jones’ question was in response to recent comments from Pereira, who has talked about moving up to heavyweight to challenge for  another UFC title.

Following UFC St. Louis this past weekend, White was asked about the situation, and the UFC President repeated the promotion’s working on Jones – Miocic (quotes via MMA Fighting.com).

“Yeah, it’s Stipe,” White said. “I think Jon’s just asking, ‘Who do you like? What do you think?’ Kinda just feeling it out and seeing what people think, but he knows he’s fighting Stipe.

“Sounds right [that the fight will be in New York].”

Jones and Miocic were expected to fight at UFC 295 last November in New York City. But, a pectoral injury that Jones incurred sidelined the match-up.

The 41-year-old Miocic (20-4) hasn’t competed since March, 2021, when he lost the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou via knockout. That defeat followed back-to-back wins over Daniel Cormier to close out their rubber match series.

The 36-year-old Jones (27-1), meanwhile, won the vacated heavyweight title in March, 2023, by quickly submitting Ciryl Gane. The former light-heavyweight champion’s only defeat to date came via disqualification in a 2009 fight with Matt Hamill.