Four fights Dana White can make for Jon Jones next after stunning UFC 285 victory over Ciryl Gane

JON JONES is back on top of the UFC world following a stunning submission victory in his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane.

The former pound-for-pound king returned from a three-year layoff on Saturday night to claim the vacant 265lb title in the main event of UFC 285.

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Jon Jones made his long-awaited return at UFC 285[/caption]

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Jones coached out Ciryl Gane in the Sin City showdown to claim the heavyweight title[/caption]

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Attention has already turned to who Jones will face next[/caption]

Jones, 35, submitted former interim 265lb king Ciryl Gane in just TWO MINUTES to become a two-division champion and cement his legacy as the greatest MMA fighter of all time.

The dust has barely settled on UFC 285 and fans are already wondering who Jones could face in his next outing.

And SunSport is on hand to run down the list of potential opponents for the American.

Stipe Miocic

Former long-reigning heavyweight champion Miocic hasn’t set foot inside the octagon since losing the heavyweight belt to Francis Ngannou two years ago.

But he was in contention to welcome Jones back to the octagon before the UFC pivoted to Ngannou and then Gane.

And ahead of fight night, he claimed the promotion have earmarked him to face the winner of the bout.

Miocic told former opponent Daniel Cormier: “They [the UFC] told me, July.

“They said it – International Fight Week. That’s what I was told, so.” 

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Sergei Pavlovich

Russian wrecking machine Pavlovich has been on a tear since suffering defeat tol Alistair Overeem his UFC debut five years ago.

The Rostov rammer has rattled off a staggering five TKO victories since his ill-fated debut – all of which have come in the first round.

Pavlovich – who weighed in as a backup for Jones and Gane this week – solidified himself as a real contender in the second half of 2022 with brutal stoppages of Derrick Lewis and Tai Tuivasa.

He may not have a big name, but he could very well be in Jones’ future if he gets past Curtis Blaydes next month.

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Serghei Pavlovich is the dark horse of contenders to face Jon Jones[/caption]

Curtis Blaydes

Blaydes himself is a serious contender to face Jones should a fight with Miocic fail to come to fruition.

The veteran is on a three-fight win streak which includes wins over divisional standouts Jairzinho Rozenstruik and Tom Aspinall.

A statement win over the dangerous Pavlovich could be enough to finally get him over the line and bag him a long-awaited title shot.

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Curtis Blaydes is also in contention to face Jones in the near future[/caption]

Francis Ngannou

Cameroonian clubber Ngannou was the man the UFC, like fans, initially wanted to welcome Jones back to the cage.

But they failed to come to terms over a new contract, paving the way for Africa’s first UFC heavyweight champion to sadly depart the promotion.

Ngannou hasn’t closed the door on a return to the company and a blockbuster clash with Jones, which is even bigger following the latter’s win over Gane.

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A fight with Francis Ngannou is very unlikely but still possible[/caption]

But that would require an almighty U-turn from UFC president Dana White, who recently ruled out ever working with Jones again.

White said on Friday: “We negotiated with him for years. It’s over, that’s over. He’ll never be in the UFC again.”

He added: “I never say never, but I’ll give you a never on that one. We tried.”