UFC 309: Jon Jones is ready to give up his heavyweight title for “super fights” with Jamahal Hill and Derrick Lewis

Jon Jones may not be the UFC heavyweight champion for much longer, whether he wins or loses at UFC 309. In a new interview, Jones expressed his desire to lose the title if he defeats Stipe Miocic on Saturday and goes in search of what he calls “superfights.”

“I could imagine that after this I will only organize super fights. If we have a dominant performance after this fight, I’m willing to give up the heavyweight championship and fight for fun,” Jones told combat sports journalist Aaron Bronsteter. “I want to fight for fun. “Throughout my career I’ve had a big problem with having to defend, defend, defend.”

“I think of my teammate Donald ‘Cowboy’ Cerrone. Whether he wins, loses or draws, he fights. I would like to experience that for the first time in my career. I don’t have to protect this belt, I have to fight guys that I want to fight stylistically.”

There are two additional names surrounding the main event of UFC 309: interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Jones has repeatedly refused to share a title with legitimate top contender Aspinall. Jones, strangely enough claimed Aspinall was undeserving seized the opportunity and recently claimed that Aspinall was an “asshole” who didn’t deserve his deal at media day on Wednesday.

Jones said Pereira, an undisputed champion with multiple title defenses, was a more worthy opponent. But the “super fights” Jones proposed on Wednesday are far from legacy-defining.

“Random fights like Jamahal Hill. He and I are meeting at 220 pounds to see what happens,” Jones told Bronsteter. “That would be interesting to see. I have an interesting weight where I can fight light heavyweights or heavyweights. Derrick Lewis is the greatest knockout puncher in history. I throw out random names, but I’m at a bodyweight right now where I can do fun fights. I want fun fights for myself, not necessarily for the fans, but let’s see if Dana will let me do that.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Hill suffered a defeat and relinquished his title without a single defense. Lewis has never won UFC gold and has not had a winning streak since 2021. Jones’ desire to fight Hill or Lewis contradicts a previous statement that he would retire with a win over Miocic if UFC doesn’t book the Pereira fight.

“If the UFC doesn’t want this to happen, it’s ultimately the boss’s decision, then it won’t happen, then I’ll just move on with my life,” Jon Jones said at media day. “The way I see it, you would rather see me lose or get another superfight, and the only superfight that makes sense for me and my team is Alex Pereira.”

Jones vs. Miocic takes center stage on Saturday at New York’s Madison Square Garden.