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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
After destroying Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC on Versus 2 at the beginning of this month, Jon Jones put himself into the mix of top challengers in the light heavyweight division. With fans calling for him to be matched up against the likes of Rich Franklin, Forrest Griffin and Randy Couture, it appears he may have his next opponent decided later next month.
According to his manager Maliki Kawa on Twitter, Jones may meet the winner of the UFC 119 bout between Ryan Bader and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira.
"Just so you guys know, [Jon Jones] did ask for any one of the guys you tweeted: Forrest, Franklin and Couture. Let's see who'll step up and do it," Kawa Tweeted. "Right now it looks like winner of "Lil Nog" and Bader. All are great opponents and [Jon] would welcome the challenge."
Bader, the undefeated winner of the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter, has looked increasingly more impressive from fight to fight. His last victory came by third round knockout against Keith Jardine in February, and a victory over Nogueira puts him up into the mix with Jones as the top young fighters in the 205 lb. division.
For Nogueira, he's out to establish his position in the top end of the division after a shaky fight against Jason Brilz in May. Brilz entered their UFC 114 meeting as a late replacement for an injured Forrest Griffin, and impressed everyone with a great performance, losing a razor thin split decision that many felt should have gone his way. Nogueira, with a win over Bader, would make for a great next challenge for Jones.
Either fighter equals a step up for Jones after rolling through everyone that's been put in front of him, and their bout is likely for a late November or December date dependent on the injury status of the fighter that emerges as the winner at UFC 119.
Penick's Analysis: Either fighter makes for a perfect next fight for Jones. The winner of this fight was already in the mouths of fans and writers as a possible next opponent, and with both Griffin and Franklin coming back from injury, this may be a more viable option. If it's Bader that gets past Nogueira, it will be a bout between two of the top up and coming names in the division, with the winner getting the fast track to a potential title shot in the division. The loser would be set back slightly, but in the ever revolving top end of the light heavyweight division, they'll be able to get back on track soon enough.
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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