Anthony Smith: Jon Jones ‘not in the equation’ at heavyweight until he signs a contract, Curtis Blaydes deserves interim title shot

Curtis Blaydes has little doubt that if the UFC goes to crown an interim heavyweight champion in Francis Ngannou’s absence that he ought to be at the least one-half of that battle.

Following his win, Blaydes referred to as for that chance whereas naming ex-champion Stipe Miocic and Ciryl Gane as his more than likely opposition however it doesn’t matter what he needs to be in that dialog if the promotion goes at hand out an interim belt.

One-time UFC title challenger Anthony Smith agrees, particularly after watching Blaydes lay waste to Chris Daukaus by second-round knockout at UFC Columbus, which prolonged his win streak to 2 in a row with a 6-1 document general in his previous seven fights.

“Curtis Blaydes has acquired to be one-half of [an interim title fight],” Smith mentioned on The Fighter vs. The Author. “No. 1, out of anyone that we’re speaking about, Curtis Blaydes is the one one coming off a win. Stipe’s coming off a loss and Ciryl Gane’s coming off a loss. It’s acquired to be Curtis versus a kind of guys.

“I wouldn’t doubt it’s Stipe or that they attempt to make that battle, particularly as a result of Ciryl did simply lose to Francis and if he wins then for no matter cause Ciryl doesn’t battle once more, then Francis comes again and we’ve acquired to do this once more. Nobody else stands out to me.”

Miocic is the longest reigning UFC heavyweight champion in historical past and he had hoped for an instantaneous rematch with Ngannou after falling to him by knockout of their most up-to-date encounter in March 2021. Of their first assembly, Miocic soundly defeated Ngannou in a lopsided unanimous choice, which is why the Ohio native felt like a trilogy between them made probably the most sense.

In the end, the UFC opted to matchup Ngannou with Gane as an alternative and Miocic has been sitting on the skin wanting in whereas awaiting phrase on his subsequent battle.

After all the opposite potential hurdle to Blaydes’ title aspirations may very well be Jon Jones’ arrival at heavyweight as he continues to tease his transfer to the division after relinquishing his 205-pound title all the best way again in 2020.

On Tuesday, Jones was as soon as once more speaking about his plans to battle at heavyweight as he seems to be to develop into a two-division champion when he lastly returns.

“I’ve been imagining it for over two years now, I genuinely consider successful this heavyweight championship is in my future,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “It’s already been written.

“I simply have to hold my nostril within the grime for now and hold working, every little thing else will maintain itself.”

As a lot as that makes it sound like Jones will likely be preventing sooner quite than later, Smith simply can’t put him into the interim title dialog proper now.

“Till Jon indicators a contract with somebody, I’m simply imagining he’s not within the equation,” Smith mentioned. “As a result of you’ll be able to’t discuss ‘what if’s’ and Jon is an enormous what if.

“I feel finest case is everybody simply pulls Jon out of it and let’s simply cease speaking about him till he decides what he needs to do. Jon Jones is out of the image.”

February marked two years since Jones final noticed motion within the UFC so it’s troublesome to argue with Smith’s logic with regards to the present panorama at heavyweight. Jones has additionally been caught in contract negotiations with the UFC on his subsequent battle after arguing about his wage when a matchup towards Ngannou was proposed two years in the past.

As for Blaydes, Smith is aware of he’s been biding his time to lastly get a shot at UFC gold and a showdown with Miocic actually is the matchup that makes probably the most sense.

“I feel that’s the battle to make,” Smith acknowledged.

As of now, the UFC hasn’t made any announcement relating to the way forward for the heavyweight division with Ngannou recovering from knee surgical procedure till 2023, though Dana White has mentioned that it’s possible an interim title will likely be launched within the close to future.