Jon Jones Eyes April UFC Return At MSG, July International Fight Week Headliner
Former two-time undisputed UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones has briefly earmarked to potential dates for his Octagon return next year, and impending heavyweight divisional bow.
Jones, a former two-time undisputed light heavyweight champion has been out of action since February of last year where he successfully defended the title with a close unanimous decision win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247. Jones would vacant the title in August of that year.
Expected to make his long-awaited heavyweight division bow against either Stipe Miocic or Francis Ngannou, public negotiation fallouts with the promotion sidelined Jones for the entirety of this year, as well as his desire to take his time in a considered move to the weight class.
The Rochester native was inducted into the Fight Wing of the UFC Hall of Fame on September 24. last, however, in the hours following his induction in Las Vegas, Nevada, the 34-year-old was arrested near the grounds of the Ceasars Palace Hotel & Casino.
Jones was subsequently charged with battery domestic violence, allegedly against his longtime fiancée, Jessie Moses — a misdemeanor, as well as a felony charge of tampering or injuring a vehicle when he is alleged to have headbutted a responding police cruiser during his arrest, resulting in a medium-sized dent on the car’s hood as well as causing paint to chip.
Prosecutors were recently granted additional time in order to file criminal charges against the Albuquerque resident, with his appearance in court now expected to take place on January 31. next.
The former champion also recently cut ties with former head coach, Mike Winkeljohn — labelling him a “miserable b*stard“ after he was suspended from longtime home base, Jackson-Wink MMA in Albuquerque, New Mexico following his September arrest.
Jon Jones targets April return at Madison Square Garden, or July International Fight Week outing
Jones, who is currently training alongside former two-weight UFC champion, Henry Cejudo and Eric Albarracin in Arizona at Fight Ready MMA, outlined his intentions to return at a potential Madison Square Garden card in April, or a July pay-per-view outing during International Fight Week.
“I’m looking to fight somewhere in April, possibly Madison Square Garden, or total opposite date, possibly July at International Fight Week,” Jon Jones told KRQE News during a recent interview. “So those are the two dates that I’m eyeing. I think it’ll depend on who wins in January between Francis Ngannou and Ciryl Gane, and we’ll just take it from there.” (Transcribed by MMA News)
As mentioned by Jones, the promotion are slated to field a heavyweight title unification bout between Francis Ngannou and interim titleholder, Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 in January — with Jones widely expected to challenge the victor in his divisional bow.
