Ex-champ Jon Jones would fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 196 – if heavyweight belt is on line

Here’s an intriguing – though likely farfetched – possibility for next week’s UFC 196 headliner.

After a series of changes to the Feb. 6 card, the pay-per-view event is currently without a main event. Enter former UFC light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones?

Jones (21-1 MMA, 15-1 UFC), whom UFC officials recently reinstated from a suspension following an April hit-and-run accident, had been looking for a chance to reclaim the light-heavyweight belt, which was stripped after his arrest.

However, could Jones, who’s ranked No. 1 in the MMAjunkie/USA TODAY Sports MMA pound-for-pound and light-heavyweight rankings, accelerate his plan for a long-planned and eventual move up to heavyweight?

On Monday, Cain Velasquez (13-2 MMA, 11-2 UFC) pulled out of his rematch with heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1 MMA, 8-2 UFC). Stipe Miocic (14-2 MMA, 8-2 UFC) then stepped in as a replacement, but citing foot and back injuries, Werdum then also pulled out of the event, and UFC 196 was left without a headliner  – and Miocic was left without an opponent (get all the details in the above video).

A few folks suggested a long-shot possibility: Miocic vs. Jones for an interim belt.

Jones said he’s in – but only if the “interim” tag is removed from the stakes (via Twitter):

It’s certainly an intriguing option, especially considering Jones has been out of the cage since a January 2015 title win over Daniel Cormier. And though “Bones” has a few remaining options at light heavyweight – namely a rematch with new champ Cormier, who won the vacant belt in his absence – a late-notice UFC 196 headliner against No. 3-ranked heavyweight Miocic would certainly earn him some kudos from fight fans and UFC brass.

Again, it’s likely a long shot; UFC 196 takes place in just 11 days. But the Super Bowl-weekend card, which used to be one of the UFC’s biggest events of the year, could certainly use a savior.

As of this morning, though, UFC officials hadn’t announced any definitive plans for the card.

For more on UFC 196, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.