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Luke Rockhold Expects To Face Jon Jones This Year

April 22, 2019 | Posted by Jordan Huie

Luke Rockhold recently spoke with Submission Radio, (h/t MMAWeekly) and talked about how he thinks Jon Jones is coasting in a division that has no legitimate challengers for him.

“I think Jon is just looking for anything that can get traction. Jon is in a dead pool up there. There’s not a lot of fish in the pond, so I think he’s just struggling. He’s trying to pick off these easy fights. He’s trying to make people relevant, like Anthony Smith. I don’t know. He’s trying to pick off style match-ups.”

He continued, adding that he hopes he and Jones will fight later this year or early 2020.

“I’d jump on (a fight with Jones) in a heartbeat. I’ve been training as Jon Jones for (teammate Daniel Cormier) for so many years and I know his style, and like what we have here. So I’m gonna go focus on what I’m doing here this summer and if everything works out, me and Jon will be dancing later this year or 2020.”

He added that he has a versatile skill-set that can allow him to go at Jones in different ways.

“I can strike with him, I’m no slouch in the wrestling game, and top of it, with the size I have now, it’s different. And I’m gonna give a lot more power, I’m gonna bring it on the feet, and I don’t believe there’s a man in this game that can f— with me on the ground.”

Jon Jones is set to defend against Thiago Santos at UFC 239 in Las Vegas on July 6th, 2019. Santos is quite the underdog according to oddsmakers, such as MyBookie, who have Jones listed at -650 to Santos at +450. At the same event, Luke Rockhold will face Jan Blachowicz. It will be his debut in the Light Heavyweight division.