UFC 197 is right around the corner, and we will get to see Jon Jones back in action for the first time in more than a year. Unfortunately, we won't get to see Jones fight for the light heavyweight title, which was stripped from him, but we will still see a pretty good fight against Ovince Saint Preux for the interim title.
Jones was supposed to take on Daniel Cormier in the main event for UFC 197, but Cormier had to back out due to a foot injury. Most people expect Jones to handle Saint Preux pretty easily in that fight, which will then raise anticipation again for a fight with Cormier later on down the line for the title.
There was a thought when Cormier initially pulled out of the fight that the UFC might pull Jones too and move the fight to UFC 200, but that didn't happen. That would have left a big void at UFC 197 considering Jones is still a huge draw, even if it won't be a fight against Cormier. Assuming Jones wins, his next fight will be with Cormier, but the question is where and when.
Since the Jones-Cormier rivalry is one of the best in the sport, the UFC will want to showcase that fight at a huge event, and that could mean the UFC debut in New York at Madison Square Garden. The UFC recently officially locked down a date for their New York debut, and it will be on Nov. 12 at Madison Square Garden. The UFC obviously wants to make that event huge, and there have been rumors about who would fight, but you can't get much bigger than a Jones-Cormier rematch.
While this is certainly a possibility, Jones does not think that Cormier will agree to it. Cormier has balked in the past at fighting Jones in New York because it gives him a hometown advantage (Jones is from Rochester, N.Y.), and Jones still thinks that he is scared to do it. For what it's worth, Jones has said that he would fight Cormier anywhere, including his living room, but Cormier doesn't seem as open to it.
Of course, the UFC could just decide to do it anyway considering it would be a massive draw for their debut, but they also have to keep the champ happy. These two guys don't like each other at all, and we will eventually see a rematch between them. It is just a matter of logistics at this point. First things first, though; Jones has to handle with Saint Preux at UFC 197 on April 23 in Las Vegas, a fight where he is a very heavy favorite to win.
