UFC 193: Champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones fired up to try blockbuster fight Down Under

JON “Bones” Jones says he would be honoured to headline a blockbuster Melbourne fight card that has been billed as the biggest in UFC history.

Jon Jones, left, of Endicott, N.Y., gets in a kick to the head of Rampage Jackson, of Irvine, Calif., during the first round of their UFC Light Heavyweight title bout, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, in Denver. (AP Photo/ Jack Dempsey )

LIGHT heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones says he would be honoured to headline a blockbuster Melbourne fight card that has been billed as the biggest in UFC history.

As he prepares for the much hyped grudge match with No. 2 ranked challenger Daniel Cormier at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, Jones flagged his interest in becoming the showpiece bout at Etihad Stadium, should the Victorian Labor Government fulfil its promise and lift the ban on cage fighting.

“Absolutely. I would absolutely love to do it,” Jones said in a pre-fight press conference.

“The only other country I’ve fought in was Canada. So it would be an honour to fight in front of a different audience.

“And I totally would be up for it. Against the right opponent, I’d do it.”

Only former welterweight champion Georges St Pierre has headlined a stadium event, and while Jones is eager to be part of the November card down under, his “real dream” is to be the main event at Madison Square Gardens.

“I’ve been saying it since before I was a champion,” Jones said.

Jon Jones: “It would be an honour to fight in front of a different audience.”

“And I do believe it will happen one day. I’m just going to stay faithful and stay ready. And I believe I’ll be that guy when the opportunity comes.”

For now, Jones is concentrating all of his powers on Cormier, a man he has developed a bitter feud with.

The pair has traded barbs for the best part of two years, a verbal stoush that culminated in a press conference brawl that made global headlines ahead of UFC 178.

Since the MGM Grand lobby fight, in which Jones was said to have landed a punch on Cormier, promotional videos and interviews have painted the champion as a villain, a tag he has resisted in the past.

“I mean no one wants to be the bad guy,” Jones said.

“But at the same time people tag me to be the bad guy. And I’ve totally learned to just let go, let it go.

“You know, when I read my comments on Twitter and Instagram I realise man, do I — I really do inspire people and touch people. And people really do appreciate who I am as a martial artist.

Jon Jones (R) shows his reach in punching Rashad Evans during their 2012 bout in Atlanta.

“And then when I look at some of the people who write me negative messages it’s always so dumb. It’s like so dumb. It’s like dude you’re fake.

“I’ve been hearing that I’m fake for so many years.

“I’m not here to win you over in my personality. I’m here to fight. That’s ultimately my job.”

Despite all the bad blood, neither fighter was prepared to reveal whether they intend to bury the hatchet come Saturday night.

“You gain a level of respect by sharing the Octagon with someone — I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Cormier said.

“It doesn’t really matter to me one way or the other obviously.”

Jones added: Every guy I’ve beat I’ve had a pretty solid relationship with. I’m cordial. And they’re cordial. And I just kind of go on about my merry life.”

Originally published as UFC 193: Champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones fired up to try blockbuster fight Down Under