Jon Jones: 5 Tune-Up Fights He Could Take at Heavyweight

Jon Jones is the current UFC light heavyweight champion.

He is 6'4", and walks around at about 230 pounds. He is also only 23 years old.

In the future, he will likely have to move up to the heavyweight division, as he is still growing, and could find himself unable to make the 205 pound limit for the light heavyweight division.

If he does move up to heavyweight, and if he isn't given an immediate title shot, here are five tune-up fights he could take, before taking on the upper echelon of the division.

Stefan Struve

Stefan Struve would be a good matchup for Jones, as we would finally be able to see how he handles someone close to his own size.

Struve is 6'11", so he's quite a bit taller, but with an 84" reach, it would nearly equal Jones' 84.5" reach.

Jones would likely walk right through Struve with some major ground and pound, but the threat of a triangle would be great against Struve.

Roy Nelson

These two could eventually switch weight classes, but for now, Nelson remains a heavyweight, and would be another good test for Jones.

Nelson has got a heck of a chin on him, and is a black belt in jiu-jitsu.

Would Jones be able to stop him with strikes?

Would he be able to get him in a guillotine?

Daniel Cormier

Daniel Cormier may not have the name recognition as some of the other fighters on the list, and he may not be as proven, but he would make a solid tune up for Jones.

Cormier is a better proven wrestler than Jones, and he has knockout power.

That could be a deadly combination for Jones to go up against.

Or he could walk right through him.

Frank Mir

Frank Mir is a veteran of MMA, and the heavyweight division.

Mir is a former interim champion, and a former champion, so he would definitely make a solid fight for Jones to take before a heavyweight title shot.

And a win would prove Jones belongs in the heavyweight division.

Minotauro Nogueira

Legend of the sport, knockout power, black belt in jiu-jitsu and an iron will.

That is Minotauro Nogueira for you.

A win over Nogueira would prove beyond any doubt that Jones belongs in the heavyweight division, and could start a tear through a second division that could go unrivaled for years to come.

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