Jon Jones open to Usyk fight but only under MMA rules

Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones would take a fight with Oleksandr Usyk, but only if it happens under MMA rules.

Usyk vacated his IBA, WBC and WBA heavyweight boxing titles last month, and his advisor Sergey Lapin later floated Jones and Deontay Wilder as possible opponents for one final bout. Jones rejected the idea of a boxing match but said he would welcome an MMA contest, citing Usyk's background in wrestling as evidence the Ukrainian could handle himself in the cage.

Jones explains why he won't box Usyk

Speaking to Ring Magazine, Jones dismissed any notion of fighting Usyk in a boxing ring. He acknowledged Usyk's status as one of the all-time great heavyweight boxers but said limiting himself to hands-only competition makes no sense. "Not at all [interested]. Usyk is Usyk, man," Jones said, per the outlet. "He is one of the absolute GOATs of heavyweight boxing. I also am aware that he does wrestling, and wrestling has been a heavy part of his training for many years, probably why he is so dominant in the clinch."

Jones added that he would test Usyk's full skill set if the boxer wanted to step into MMA territory. He drew a sharp line between their respective disciplines, saying he does not consider himself an elite boxer and does not view Usyk as a complete mixed martial artist. "I'm no boxer. And I don't consider Usyk to be a complete fighter," Jones said.

The 28-1 MMA star also claimed the outcome would be clear if the two met in a no-rules setting. Whether Usyk or his team take Jones up on the challenge remains to be seen.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — Jon Jones reveals the one way he’d fight Oleksandr Usyk