For the """""easy""""" legacy boost, to hell with Stipe. Jones should only fight for the belt. It would instantly make him GOAT. NO QUESTIONS, BAR NONE!
That said, he needs to get back in the cage. He can't waste time and he can't let his callous get soft.
Originally I thought he would need a tune up fight but most guys at heavyweight have ko power. I would hate for Jones to get sparked out in a non title heavyweight fight. As big a notch as it would be for Derrick Lewis to ko Jones, I wouldnt want to see that at this stage. If it's Francis and for the belt, the culture wins either way. But if it's Stipe, that would just make a portion of the fanbase even more insufferable.