UFC reportedly sets date for Jon Jones' heavyweight debut, but opponent remains unclear

Former light heavyweight UFC champion Jon Jones relinquished his title in May 2020, announcing his desire for the heavyweight scrap instead. But we're only now inching closer to finally seeing him back in the Octagon. 

On Tuesday, MMA Junkie's Nolan King reported that the UFC wants Jones' heavyweight debut to be at UFC 285 in Las Vegas on March 5, 2023, and it had plans A, B and C to ensure the fight occurs. 

But who are those three fighters, and which one makes the most sense for Jones? 

Plan A: Stipe Miocic (ranked No. 2)

The UFC's first plan was for Jones to face former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. The fight makes sense because it's not just handing Jones a title shot but also ensuring that should he win, it means something to the division.

Stipe is considered one of the more dangerous and respected heavyweights. The problem is that Stipe knows his worth and isn't settling for a normal payday. 

“[T]hey didn’t really come correct with an offer — and that’s really what happened here,” MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani explained on the "MMA Hour." “It was like a ‘Hey, you wanna fight him, here’s the amount, take it or leave it.’ And [Stipe Miocic] was like, ‘Uuuuh,’ and then they just moved on.”

Jones said he was already preparing for the fight, but UFC president Dana White denied that it was set. King reports a fight against Stipe has "essentially gone by the wayside."

Plan B: Francis Ngannou (heavyweight champion)

Now that Plan A is apparently shelved, the UFC has revealed it is targeting another title fight for Jones. It's clear that the UFC didn't want to go this way right off the bat. Putting Jones, a huge cash cow, up against one of the scariest men in all of combat sports, potentially spoiling his career at heavyweight, isn't smart. 

But the UFC also knows that the fight could bring in huge views, even if it puts Jones at risk. 

The problem here is that Ngannou is recovering from an injury and might not be ready by March. The UFC could also run into the same challenge it had with Miocic in regard to a purse. Ngannou has been vocal about his issues with White, so this could be an incredible bargaining chip for the champ. 

Plan C: Curtis Blaydes (ranked No. 3)

There's no doubt this would be the least thrilling of the three plans, but that also means it will be the easiest to make. Blaydes is coming off a 15-second TKO win over Tom Aspinall. The plus to this fight is that it would put Jones into the heavyweight division without handing him a title shot.

But a win over Blaydes doesn't exactly earn him a title shot next either. It almost feels like a hurry-up-and-fight move. 

Whatever happens, a Jones heavyweight fight will get attention, but it remains to be seen if that'll be good or bad.