Dana White interested in Rumble vs Bones fight for interim belt

Coming off of a blistering 13-second knockout of Glover Teixeira, many believed Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson had earned a rematch with current light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier.

However, UFC president Dana White has different plans in mind.

“You can’t blame Cormier. The guy spent money and trained like 3 times and didn’t fight Jon Jones,” White said during a Tuesday press conference. “I’m interested in doing Anthony Johnson vs. Jon Jones for the interim title and whoever wins will then go on and face Daniel Cormier.”

Jones, who is still under USADA suspension after failing a drug test leading up to his scheduled rematch with Cormier at UFC 200, appears to be set to return well before the two year suspension is up, according to Jones himself.

 “I’m sure you guys are curious about what’s going on with this USADA situation. Obviously I can’t get into it because it’s still pending, but what I can say is that we have found out lots of really good news, and I am expecting to be back in the octagon really soon.”

Jones and Rumble were originally set to fight back at UFC 187, but the fight fell apart after Jones was accused of, and eventually charged with, hit-and-run in April of 2015.