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UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has said his dream opponent is WWE’s Brock Lesnar. Could that dream match take place this year when WrestleMania: Goes Hollywood at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, CA?
Jones vs Lesnar at WrestleMania
Whether in the octagon of UFC or in the squared circle of the WWE, Jon “Bones” Jones vs. Lesnar is a marquee mega-fight fans want to see. There is arguably no bigger marquee sporting event than “The Grandest Stage of them All” WrestleMania.
I caught up with Jones last Thursday at the conclusion of the UFC 285 press conference in Las Vegas at KA Theater. When I asked Jones, if he had any interest in a potential fight against Lesnar and going to WrestleMania he responded, “nah, there’s a enough love right here in the UFC.”
Spoke briefly with @JonnyBones at #UFC285 Press Conference.
There is no interest in a potential fight against @BrockLesnar anymore.
When asked if he would participate in @WWE or @WrestleMania
Jones: "Enough love right here in the @ufc."#WrestleMania #WWE #JonJones pic.twitter.com/xsiicgUs50
— T.J. LEGACY (@legacycoleworld) March 3, 2023
However, in the fight business like the card, things are always subject to change. The next day Jones told Karisa Maxwell of the Sporting News he hopes a potential fight with Brock Lesnar can still happen.
According to an article by Daniel Yanofsky of Sporting News, Jones spoke on a potential Lesnar fight.
“I think fighting Brock Lesnar would have been really cool,” Jones said. “Brock isn’t the most technical guy, but he has a massive fanbase. He’s a lot bigger than me. And it would have been one of those really cool David and Goliath situations. It would have been really cool for cross-sport promoting, and I think we both would have done great things for our family and for our team. Financially, that would have been massive. Never say never.”
https://twitter.com/sn_fights/status/1631681110672302082?s=20
UFC 285 Aftermath
The “What If” speculation of a dream match between Lesnar and Jones only intensified after UFC 285. In the co-main event Jones (27-1,1NC) dominated Ciryl Gane (11-2) and became UFC Heavyweight champion. Jones took no damage during the fight after Gane’s sole hit an illegal low kick to his groin. During a post-fight interview the newly crowned champion called out former UFC champion Stipe Miocic (20-4).
UFC President Dana White confirmed to media members the ideal scenario for Miocic vs. Jones would take place during International Fight week in Las Vegas on July 8. So in theory, Jon Jones could be available for an appearance at WrestleMania scheduled for April 1 and April 2.
PWInsider reported last week that Lesnar told people backstage at Monday’s episode of Raw that he was “finishing up” soon. Now whether this means another Lesnar post-WrestleMania hiatus is something to keep an eye on. For now, Lesnar’s fight card has been punched as he is slated for a match against the 7’3″ Nigerian Giant Omos when WrestleMania: Goes Hollywood. However, WWE is notorious for storyline swerves and surprises so we will have to tune in for the premium live event on the Peacock streaming service to see.
A WrestleMania Moment
In year’s past we have seen more UFC standouts crossover into the world of professional wrestling. UFC Hall of Famer “Rowdy” Rhonda Rousey made her WWE in rind debut at WrestleMania 31 in 2015. UFC Fighter Cain Velasquez shocked the combat sports world on October 4, 2019 on the first episode of Smackdown on Fox. Velasquez accompanied Rey Mysterio to confront Brock Lesnar after he attack the luchador legend and his son Dominik. Lesnar and Velasquez squared off at the premium live event Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia for the WWE Championship.
WrestleMania is the Super Bowl of professional wrestling. This year the “show of shows” takes place in a two night extravaganza at SoFi Stadium. From Hulk Hogan slamming Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III to the clash between John Cena and The Rock at WrestleMania 28 the “showcase of the immortals” is full of iconic moments.
What a moment it would be to see the newly crowned UFC Heavyweight champion Jon “Bones” Jones go one-on-one against the “Beast Incarnate” Brock Lesnar on the “Grandest Stage of them All” WrestleMania.
