In August, Anthony Johnson announced that he was planning to return to the UFC after a 2 1/2 -year hiatus from the cage. But in his absence, “Rumble” decided he’d gotten too big to return to the light heavyweight division and was targeting a bout at heavyweight, hopefully against the top names in the division. Now though, Johnson is walking that back, saying he’s also considering light heavyweight, if he can get a crack at Jon Jones.

Speaking with Below the Belt recently, the former light heavyweight title challenger said he’s in the market for a third crack at the belt, assuming he can cut the weight and feel good.

“I’m gonna wait until I get about, when I lose about 10 more pounds, 235. I wanna see how my body feels and then if it feels good, then I’m going to probably make 205. Why? Because who is there to fight at 205?” Johnson asked rhetorically.

Johnson and Jones were set to fight once before, at UFC 187 but that was the event that was famously unhinged by the start of Jones’ three-year journey of self-immolation. Jones was stripped of his title for the first time by the UFC (he has a record three title strippings) for an outside the cage incident where Jones was involved in a hit-and-run accident. Instead, Cormier stepped in for Jones and submitted Johnson. Now, with Jones so devoid of interesting challengers at 205 to the point that he’s trying to pick a fight with the newly-crowned middleweight champion, Johnson thinks it’d be good to give it another shot.

“We’ll make it happen if I get low enough,” Johnson said. “We’ll fight at 205. That’s a fight I wanted. I think Jon wanted that fight too, before everything happened. That situation, which, it’s over with, it’s in the past. When we see each other there’s no animosity between each other. We show each other love, you know what I mean? But that was a fight, that’s why I went up to 205, man.”

Rumble, of course, began his career as a welterweight but fought as high as heavyweight before settling in at the 205 pound division where he was dominant over everybody not named Daniel Cormier. Fans always imagined that Johnson’s insane power and striking acumen would make the most interesting test for Jones’ unrivaled dominance at 205 but they never got to see it. Instead, due to Jones’ continually getting suspended, Johnson fought Cormier twice, getting submitted both times. After their second fight, a bout in which Rumble inexplicably tried to wrestle the two-time Olympian, Johnson retired and he admits that his heart was never really into the Cormier fights and so it affected his performance.

“That’s the guy I want [Jones] and then you know, when I get my heart broken, I have to fight DC, it’s not as motivating,” Johnson said. “The fire wasn’t in me to fight DC but I fought him, kind of fought him, you know what I’m saying, but it wasn’t the same drive.”

It looks like we might get the long sought after Jones-Rumble fight after all.

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MUST-READ STORIES

Results. Joanna Jedrzejcyzk bloodies and beats up Michelle Waterson, calls for title shot following statement win at UFC Tampa.

Results. Demetrious Johnson wins flyweight grand prix at ONE Century Part 1.

Results. Aung La Nsang stops Brandon Vera, defends LHW crown at ONE Century Part 2.

Results. Vadim Nemkov submits Rafael Carvalho, Alessio Sakara gets easy win at Bellator Milan/Bellator 230.

Results. Jiri Prochazka blasts through Fabio Maldonado, Kai Asakura overwhelms Ulka Sasaki at Rizin 19.

Results. Kayla Harrison armbars her way to finals, David Michaud to face Ray Cooper III for welterweight crown.

Farewell. Former champion Cain Velasquez officially retires from UFC, exits USADA testing pool.

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VIDEO STEW

Joanna post-fight.

Cody Garbrandt interview.

Bellator highlights.

Bellator featherweight grand prix Countdown.

The most important days in MMA history (pre-UFC).

Dana doesn’t buy that Bisping won the belt with a fake eye.

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LISTEN UP

6th Round. Immediate post-fight reaction to UFC Tampa.

Severe MMA. Discussing UFC Tampa, PFL, ONE Championship, and Weidman’s move to 205.

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SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE

Joanna.

Savage.

Also savage.

Joe B is ready to answer the call.

Trying to jump in.

A bridge too far.

This is a lot.

A heartfelt message.

Royce’s son is now a black belt.

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FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Michael “Venom” Page (15-1) vs. Derek Anderson (16-3, 1 NC); Bellator London, Nov. 23.

Thiago Alves (23-14) vs. Tim Means (28-11-1, 1 NC); UFC on ESPN 7, Dec. 7.

Kyoji Horiguchi (28-3) vs. Kai Asakura (14-1); Rizin NYE, Dec. 31.

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FINAL THOUGHTS

Hope y’all enjoyed the overstuffed fight weekend. Thanks for reading and see y’all tomorrow.

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EXIT POLL

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If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let him know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram, add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting, and like us on Facebook.