Jon Jones voluntarily relinquished the light heavyweight title last summer so he could make the switch to the heavyweight division. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

UFC's Dana White: Jon Jones will fight Stipe Miocic-Francis Ngannou winner

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones (26-1-0) has not yet officially completed his move to the heavyweight division. When he does, he'll compete for the championship and the right to be known as the "baddest man on the planet." 

As ESPN's Brett Okamoto explained, UFC boss Dana White recently told TMZ Sports that Jones will eventually face the winner of the UFC 260 main event on March 27 between heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic (20-3-0) and top-ranked challenger and knockout artist Francis Ngannou (15-3-0). 

"We could have that fight [Jones versus the winner of Miocic, Ngannou] this summer," White explained. 

Jones voluntarily relinquished the light heavyweight title last summer so he could make the switch to the heavyweight division, and most believed White would give the 33-year-old an opportunity to face the winner of Miocic-Ngannou because of Jones' box-office appeal, ability to sell pay-per-view buys to even casual fans and his status as arguably the most talented competitor in the history of mixed martial arts. 

Miocic, 38, toppled Ngannou in January 2018 and most recently successfully defended the strap against former champion Daniel Cormier last August.

Ngannou, 34, has recorded four straight first-round finishes since suffering back-to-back losses in 2018. 

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
49ers Hall of Fame CB Jimmy Johnson dies
Rams make surprising move with former team captain
NBA announces discipline for Bucks' Patrick Beverley
Hall of Fame RB defends Najee Harris after Steelers decline fifth-year option
Pacers file shocking number of questionable calls after Game 2 loss vs. Knicks
Former NBA star says Anthony Edwards becomes face of the NBA if Wolves knock off Nuggets
Hornets hire top Celtics assistant as next head coach
Maple Leafs fire HC Sheldon Keefe after another early playoff exit
Super Bowl champion discusses why Russell Wilson failed with Broncos
Colts LB Zaire Franklin calls out Texans, C.J. Stroud
Angels to acquire longtime Mets infielder from Braves
Giants sign former Pro Bowl wide receiver
Report reveals why the NBA did not suspend Jamal Murray
Pressure mounts on Nuggets as Nikola Jokic wins third MVP Award
Jalen Brunson shakes off injury to lift Knicks to Game 2 win
Panthers dominate Bruins to even series
LSU HC pins transfer portal struggles on reluctance to 'buy players'
Pirates announce date for 2023 No. 1 overall pick's MLB debut
Shohei Ohtani showing what would happen if he only focused on hitting
Joe Burrow shares 'support' for Bengals who requested trades

Want more sports news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.