Empathetically calling for the UFC to put together the Cyril Gane fight, maybe main or co-main either UFC 290, FN London or 294… Sitting idle waiting on the TS won’t get him Jones, it may get him the TS eventually, but his legitimacy as the champ would be questionable, besides Sergei would most likely be fighting Gane anyway. If the fight happens and he wins by the KO, it would put the needed pressure on the UFC and Jones to take the fight, otherwise the mainstream would be onto Jon asking the UFC for senior citizen fights, while absurdly ducking the obvious best contender.
In all honesty even if Sergei were to loose it really wouldn’t set him back, with the eminent retirements of Stipe and Jones, he will get another crack at the title regardless.