As Tough Challenges Arise For Jon Jones, Light Heavyweight Might Get Very Interesting After UFC 172

With the welterweight shake-up of UFC 171 in the rearview mirror and UFC 172 rapidly approaching, focus now shifts to the light heavyweight division.

Divisional champ Jon “Bones” Jones has gone undefeated since obtaining the belt from Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 128 in March 2011. He immediately took the mixed martial arts world by storm that year, finishing former 205-pound champions Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida with impressive submissions.

But he didn’t stop there, besting two more former champs in Rashad Evans and Vitor Belfort during 2012. “Bones” stayed undefeated throughout 2013 as well, beating Chael Sonnen at UFC 159 before his legendary decision win over Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 165.

However, Jones lost something that night that may be nearly as precious as his coveted UFC championship; his aura of invincibility. “The Mauler” took Jones to the limit last September, badly busting up his face in a highly controversial bout that many felt Gustafsson won. The Swedish striker will get his second go-around with Jones provided “Bones” gets by Glover Teixeira at UFC 172 on April 26 in Baltimore.

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Most are picking Jones to win with ease, but Teixeira simply can’t be slept on. He has an impressive 20-fight win streak intact. Jones is undoubtedly his toughest test. Still, the Chuck Liddell-trained protégé has some of the scariest knockout power at 205-pounds, making him an outside threat to put the division in a state of mass hysteria. It’s a long shot, though.

Beyond UFC 172’s main event, the road for Jones is still paved with elite challengers. Top-level contenders Phil Davis and the returning Anthony “Rumble” Johnson will go to war on the card, with the winner potentially going on to face divisional newcomer Daniel Cormier somewhere down the road. Cormier would appear to have the upper hand on either man at this point in time, and “DC” and Jones have a well-documented beef that can only be settled with a championship fight.

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After Gustafsson solidified his next title shot by finishing previously undefeated Jimi Manuwa at UFC Fight Night 37 earlier this month, Jones took to Twitter to voice his opinion that Gustafsson should fight Cormier for the No. 1 contender’s spot. That’s not going to happen, as Gustafsson deserves and will get another shot at the title.

“The Mauler” has vowed to finish Jones, and he appears beyond sharp and motivated.

Jones will be in for another dogfight if he defeats Teixeira as planned, and even if he can somehow beat Gustafsson for a second time, he won’t be out of the woods.

Those dynamics set the table for one of the more unpredictable times in recent light heavyweight memory. Jones defeated a long list of former champions during his initial dominant run as champion, and nothing can be taken away from that.

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Looking back, he defeated an obviously less-than-optimal “Shogun” who was coming off of ACL surgery, an aging “Rampage,” and three middleweights in Machida, Belfort, and Sonnen.

That’s not to diminish Jones’ accomplishments, however. He’s already a legend of the sport and fully deserving of his No. 1 ranking on the pound-for-pound list.

But his main advantage has always been his size. Now, bigger, stronger light heavyweights like Gustafsson and technically sound ones like Cormier and Davis are starting to make this division a bit unpredictable, thus making it a lot more fun than it was two years ago.

Jones is the best in the world; that’s not on trial. Will he be knocked off that lofty perch sometime this year?

Photo: Tom Szczerbowski for USA TODAY Sports