What's next for 22 year-old Jon Jones?

[Tree Rollins]

Jones has been completely dominant so far. He handled Brandon Vera from start to finish. He has shown no weaknesses although his chin has yet to be tested.

So what's next for Jones? Dana White isn't known for giving guys easy fights, and Jones has proven that he can hang with the big dogs.
I think his next fight will be against a top contender. If he shows impressively in that match, he'll be talked about for a title shot.

Potential match-ups, depending on upcoming fight outcomes, could be Ryan Bader, Little Nog, Forrest, or maybe Rashad.

[GoldRush7]

I think he's ready for anybody they throw at him including the big names... this guy is an absolute freak... one of the most athletic fighters I've ever seen... I'm very excited to see who he fights next

[TheIceman]

He would kill Bader , Forrest even worse . The other 3 I am not sure .

[brooks85]

bader, thiago, or Rogerio!!

and i dont think that anyone is going to stop him

[Tree Rollins]

He could even fight Couture.

[GoldRush7]

Is it fair to say he may be the Lebron James of mma?

[brooks85]

i would say yes, except he will win the championship, unless we found out he cant take a punch

[36mafia]

from mma weekly

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)
#1 Light Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Lyoto Machida
2. Rashad Evans
3. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
4. Quinton Jackson
5. Anderson Silva
6. Gegard Mousasi
7. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
8. Forrest Griffin
9. Randy Couture
10. Thiago Silva
MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings last updated on March 10, 2010

bader fight would be a step back as many believe jones is the second coming of jesus christ
he wouldnt fight rashad cause they're both in the same camp now
but i would love to see jones fight any of those guys right there in that list.

[Tree Rollins]

Forrest- i don't think they'll give him another guy who could pull an Anderson Silva on him. Forrest doesn't need to be embarrassed again.

Couture- We keep wondering when his age will catch up to him. There isn't a lot to gain for the UFC putting these guys up against each other. Either Couture ends up a sacrificial lamb, or he wins and embarrasses one of their top prospects.

Bader- Along with Jones, one of top 205 prospects . No need to match these guys up against each other. This should be a match fans will be looking forward to years down the road.

Rashad- If he loses to Rampage, this fight might make sense.

Thiago Silva- Might make the most sense.

Lil Nog- Depending on how the fight against forrest goes, this one isn't out of the question.

I think if Rashad loses, either he or Thiago would be most logical.

[GoldRush7]

i would say yes, except he will win the championship, unless we found out he cant take a punch

That heel to the face he took was pretty hard... but I know what you're sayin'

[brooks85]

only two guys I think would stand a chance on that list are Silva and Page(if he hasnt lost his touch)

Silva would have 5 rounds to ko him but jones would put him on his back

[Tree Rollins]

That heel to the face he took was pretty hard... but I know what you're sayin'

his chin hasn't been seriously tested yet. Either has his heart. If he's solid in those 2 areas, he's going to be tough to beat.

[Tree Rollins]

from mma weekly

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT DIVISION (205-pound limit)
#1 Light Heavyweight Fighter in the World: Lyoto Machida
2. Rashad Evans
3. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
4. Quinton Jackson
5. Anderson Silva
6. Gegard Mousasi
7. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
8. Forrest Griffin
9. Randy Couture
10. Thiago Silva
MMAWeekly World MMA Rankings last updated on March 10, 2010

bader fight would be a step back as many believe jones is the second coming of jesus christ
he wouldnt fight rashad cause they're both in the same camp now
but i would love to see jones fight any of those guys right there in that list.

Anderson Silva is the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world but the number 5 Light heavy?

[The HOFF]

Thiago Silva- Might make the most sense.

Totally agree. But even this I think would be a walk in the park for Jones.

[Kaladarus]

I hope they give him someone that wont be taken down whenever Jones feels like taking him down.

[Tree Rollins]

I hope they give him someone that wont be taken down whenever Jones feels like taking him down.

People thought Matt Hammil was that guy. I don't remember how he got Hammil down, but he did.

[MickChunky]

I seriously think he could take on Machida right now and win the fight. The man is one of the most impressive fighters I've ever seen.

[GoldRush7]

I'm glad i'm not the only one that feels that way

[36mafia]

Anderson Silva is the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world but the number 5 Light heavy?

rankings are always subjective. hes #2 if not #1 imo but he deserved that rank cause he hasnt fought the who's who yet at 205

[GunShard]

He should get a title shot.

[TheIceman]

Anderson Silva is the #1 pound for pound fighter in the world but the number 5 Light heavy?

GSP is top 3 and where do you rank him in LHW or HW ? Beating Irvin aka I got punched but lets pretend it was a thumb and Forrest doesn't give him any high rankings . I am not sure how he would do against lets say fully motivated Rampage or Shogun .

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

i say the winner of the Nog/Griffin gets jones, no way they put him up vs Couture(Randy might die)

also if Dana is still mad at Rampage he may make that match, i doubt Jones will fight Team Jackson guys like Evans or Jardine

[36mafia]

just dont think he matches up well stylistically with machida. he's a counter fighter and will punish you if you come after him. will punish jones in the clinch, and he's equally an unorthodox striker as jones is if not better.

[36mafia]

i say the winner of the Nog/Griffin gets jones, no way they put him up vs Couture(Randy might die)

also if Dana is still mad at Rampage he may make that match, i doubt Jones will fight Team Jackson guys like Evans or Jardine

would love this. used to love the guy but getting tired of his one and only game plan of holding the other fighter in the clinch against the cage. jones would hip toss him across the arena if he tried that with him

[terpkeg]

People thought Matt Hammil was that guy. I don't remember how he got Hammil down, but he did.

Footsweep and throw, same way he took Vera down, i believe.

[Preston09]

Jones and Rashad would be nice to see or Silva!

[TheIceman]

Jon's athleticism combined with skills make for a sick takedowns and throws show . Haven't seen anything like that in MMA and even if he faces Machida I would probably not be worried for him . Cant see how Machida could stop those throws and trips from the clinch . Had some doubts about him before this fight but not anymore , if he feels his opponent got advantage in stand up he will easily take them down if not he will show some moves in stand up . Rashad would get destroyed by him in stand up and I dont see Rashad's double leg takedowns work here .

[GoldRush7]

He has the look of an NFL wide receiver or NBA guard.... two things he probably could have been had he gone that route. One can only begin to wonder what this guy can accomplish and how it will change the future of the sport.

[Tree Rollins]

Jones also proved last night that he can easily finish a fight with strikes while in full guard.

[illmatick]

I give little nog the best chance at beating him, going to take some elite boxing and bjj to beat Jones, don't see Bader or Rashad having much of a chance at this point

[cky312]

I think the most logical thing to do would be groom him properly like a real prospect. UFC has a nack or just pitching the inexperienced and talented up against each other or savvy veterans, and if they do well, immediately pitched up against the top tiered fighters to die. Look at some of the elite talent right now, they all went through baptism by fire. Jones had Bonnar in his third fight and this was when Bonnar was still borderline top 10 LHW. Junior Dos Santos had Werdum for his second fight. I think UFC should put the brakes on a little and give this guy time to develop even more. I say let him fight a gatekeeper (Jardine, Forrest), and a big ticket over the hill fighters (Tito, Randy, Chuck) before going to the real deep end of the pool. It'd be absolutely stupid to throw Bader and Jones in right now considering they're still green if they did fight would go from two up and comers to one.

[Vrakas]

give him tito.come on guys tito needs a good beat down.after the fight is over then the worlds most dangerous man will return to the octagon and finish tito off.

[Tree Rollins]

I think the most logical thing to do would be groom him properly like a real prospect. UFC has a nack or just pitching the inexperienced and talented up against each other or savvy veterans, and if they do well, immediately pitched up against the top tiered fighters to die. Look at some of the elite talent right now, they all went through baptism by fire. Jones had Bonnar in his third fight and this was when Bonnar was still borderline top 10 LHW. Junior Dos Santos had Werdum for his second fight. I think UFC should put the brakes on a little and give this guy time to develop even more. I say let him fight a gatekeeper (Jardine, Forrest), and a big ticket over the hill fighters (Tito, Randy, Chuck) before going to the real deep end of the pool. It'd be absolutely stupid to throw Bader and Jones in right now considering they're still green if they did fight would go from two up and comers to one.

I think, if the guy proves he's ready, let him fight top guys. Jones has proven he can hang with upper-level light heavys. What's the point in giving him a couple of puff fights now? There is little to gain from him beating Chuck or Jardine or someone like that. I hope Rashad loses to Rampage because i'd really like to see Jones beat his ass.

[SweatySombrero]

This ones an easy one. jon jones is gona break some bones!

[Tree Rollins]

This ones an easy one. jon jones is gona break some bones!

You said that already in another thread. I can't believe you're so clever.