If Jon Jones pulls a Jon Jones, Jimi Manuwa will likely find himself headlining UFC 214 with the light heavyweight title on the line.
Jones’ return after his most recent indiscretion, a failed drugs test in the run-up to UFC 200 last summer, takes place in July when he runs it back against his fiercest rival, Daniel Cormier.
But while Cormier, who holds the belt that ‘Bones’ never lost, prepares to avenge his only career defeat, there remains an unpleasant anticipation of news breaking that Jones will be unable to fight.
And if that happens, London’s Manuwa will be ready to pounce.
UFC President Dana White has made no secret of the fact that he considers Manuwa something of a contingency plan in case Jones doesn’t make it to fight night on July 29.
Will he be England's next UFC champion? https://t.co/DzIhckvBHn
— JOE (@JOE_co_uk) May 14, 2017
“D.C. and Jon Jones will be the main event,” White said recently, via Fox Sports. “I’m bringing in [Jimi] Manuwa to fight on the undercard there so if anything happens, Jimi Manuwa will be ready to go and step in for somebody falling out if that happens.”
The UFC announced on Wednesday evening that ‘Poster Boy’ will take on Volkan Oezdemir, fresh from his stunning knockout of Misha Cirkunov this past weekend, in Anaheim.
Europe stand up!! 🇬🇧 @POSTERBOYJM vs. @volkan_oezdemir 🇨🇭 is official for #UFC214 pic.twitter.com/43qurIqgS2
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 31, 2017
Manuwa has knocked out his last two opponents in brutal fashion and is within touching distance of a title shot, something which he surely can’t be denied if he gets past Oezdemir, who has competed just twice under the UFC banner.
Manuwa, 37, has also insisted that he’s agreed to a deal to fight former world heavyweight and cruiserweight champion David Haye in a boxing match once the pugilist recovers from his ruptured Achilles.
It’s looking like a big year for ‘Poster Boy’.
