Jones refuses Cormier and must face Rockhold in a submission fight

Jones (left) and Rockhold (right) are expected to face each other in a grappling tournament. (PHOTO: SUPER FIGHTS Production)

Unable to fight MMA until July this year, when the one-year punishment received for having been caught in an anti-doping test on the eve of UFC 200, in July 2016, ends. Jon Jones seems to have enjoyed venturing into submission, a grappling event. After finishing Dan Henderson last December, Jones already plans to fight again in the sport.

According to a Chael Sonnen, promoter of 'Submission Underground', an event that 'Bones' participated in, the former UFC light heavyweight champion reportedly refused a confrontation against his arch-rival Daniel Cormier, but he must face another important name in the world of fights: the middleweight Luke Rockhold.

See too

Cormier reveals he would fight a doped Jones: “It doesn’t make any difference”

Rockhold asks Jon Jones in grappling challenge

Jon Jones submits Henderson in grappling event

"Jon Jones is working on a deal at the moment. He must return, but his opponent must be the Luke Rockhold. Rockhold knows how to grappling. Cormier also wanted this fight but Jon Jones said no. He wants to save Cormier for his return to the UFC where he can use all of his weapons. Vinny Magalhães also wanted this fight and we really wanted this fight. If he faced Vinny it would be Jones's first fight in ten years that he would probably lose”, declared Sonnen, in an interview with the podcast program 'The Fighter And The Kid' (USA).

In December, Rockhold himself had challenged Jones, saying he would like to test his grappling skills.