"I think you know, i figured beating Henderson and Rashad, there would be a period of trying to figure out who I would fight next, and during that period, at the end of 2012, I requested to fight a top 10 heavyweight just for the fans. But Dana and Lorenzo did not think that was the best thing for me to do right now, they wanted me to continue in the light heavyweight division.
-- If you dreamed of seeing Jon Jones fight at heavyweight, keep dreaming. That's because the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion today (Jan. 30, 2012) revealed on The MMA Hour that his request to fight in the promotion's heavyweight division against a top-ranked opponent -- in what he described a "fight for the fans" -- has been shot down by UFC President Dana White and company CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. Jones, who has ransacked through the 205-pound division with relative ease, would be a natural fit with the big boys of the UFC, given the fact that he stands at 6' 4" and usually towers and outweighs his light heavyweight counterparts come fight night. Perhaps some other time, seeing as how White and Fertitta aren't to keen on the idea of their 205-pound champion stepping up in weight class, at least not at the moment. Of course, before "Bones" can even think about jumping in weight, there is still a matter of defending his title against his bitter rival Rashad Evans, which is scheduled to go down at UFC 145 in Atlanta, Ga., on April 21, 2012. Should he be successful, Dan Henderson is expected to be his next opponent. Disappointed at the news that UFC officials axed Jones' request to mix it up at heavyweight? How would he fair against bigger opponents?