UFC 140: Rashad Evans and 4 Other Former Champions Jon Jones Should Fight

Today, Dana White made a huge announcement that Lyoto Machida, not Rashad Evans, would be fighting Jon Jones next for the UFC light heavyweight title.

Lyoto Machida is a former light heavyweight champion, and he won the belt by knocking out Rashad Evans in violent fashion at UFC 98.

This will be the third former champion in a row that Bones will be facing, and it doesn't get any easier.

In recent years, the light heavyweight belt has been passed around more than a frisbee on a college campus.

Here are five more former champions that Jon Jones should fight at some point in his career.

Forrest Griffin

Forrest Griffin became the UFC light heavyweight champion when he defeated Quinton "Rampage" Jackson via unanimous decision in 2008.

Forrest lost his title in his first defense, against Rashad Evans, and has gone 2-2 since losing the belt.

He may not be a top five guy in the division anymore, but it would be interesting to see how long he could hang with Jones.

Dan Henderson

Dan Henderson is the former Pride middleweight (205) and welterweight (183) champion, and the former Strikeforce light heavyweight champion.

Henderson was originally set up in a No. 1 contender match against Shogun Rua, set for UFC 139.

The fight is still on, but the No. 1 contender status of the match remains up in the air for now.

Brock Lesnar

I didn't say anything about just light heavyweight champions, did I?

Brock Lesnar would prove an interesting matchup for the current light heavyweight champion.

Lesnar imposes his will on his opponents, using sheer brute force to take them down and pound them out.

Both are accomplished wrestlers, but would a lanky Jones be able to remain on his feet against a powerful and, quite frankly, jacked out of his mind, wrestler?

Alistair Overeem

Alistair Overeem is the former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, and is going to make his UFC debut at UFC 141 against the man just before him on this list, Brock Lesnar.

Overeem is known for having great striking, he is the K-1 World Champion, but even with that, the majority of his career wins have come via submission.

He is a threat anywhere during a fight, and it would be fun to see how Jones would go about fighting "The 'Reem".

Rashad Evans

It seems like he's last in line wherever he goes.

Rashad Evans got passed over for the next title shot due to a hand injury that would have prevented him from being ready in time.

As a former UFC light heavyweight champion, and a former training partner of the current champ, he may have inside knowledge that nobody else has.

Jones has to fight Rashad at some point, as the feud between these two has been simmering for more than seven months now.

It's a shame we won't get to see it sooner.

Who Else?

There's plenty of other former champions who are still around.

Tito Ortiz, Wanderlei Silva and more.

Any of them that you'd like to see Jones fight? Let me know in the comments.

In the meantime— Every slideshow needs a little Brittney.

Thanks for reading!

Tim McTiernan is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. For the latest news on everything MMA, follow me on twitter @tmt2393.