Dana White wanted Jon Jones to be titled UFC 230, but former champion "was not fit"

Jon Jones will return to the Octagon at UFC 232 in December, but this was not the original plan.

According to UFC President Dana White in a recent interview with ESPN's First Take, the promotion was hoping to reserve Jones' return for UFC 230 this weekend in New York. The only problem was that Jones, who was coming back from a 15-month suspension for his second drug test, just was not ready.

"You know, we wanted him to be on this map of New York. It did not work, he was not fit, "said White. "He's at camp right now. I think the layoffs hurt the guys. But if you look at the layoffs and all the things that can be negative for a fighter, how much does it really hurt Jon Jones? He was so much better than everyone else.

Instead of letting Jones lead the UFC 230 card, Daniel Cormier will be at the center of the stage and will defend his UFC heavyweight title for the first time against Derrick Lewis. This comes after the unsuccessful attempts by the UFC to book Valentina Shevchenko against Sijara Eubanks and Nate Diaz against Dustin Poirier in the main tournament slot.

Jones would have liked to have an event in New York, but this one was not there. Fortunately for the fighting fans, the former light heavyweight champion is eager to compete under the lights of Madison Square Garden.

"It's good to be at home," Jones told a crowd of people in New York City at the UFC 232 press conference (video broadcast here). "Sorry for not fighting this event, but I promise you I'll fight at the Garden soon. It is a promise even though I will have to pay nine per cent to the government. I will do it."

"We talked about fighting this weekend at MSG, but I was not ready to go," explained Jones. "I was not in the form in which I wanted to be and so we waited a few more months."

This expectation will prompt Jones to play a return match against light heavyweight with Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 232 on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas. This is the first time Jones has been in the Octagon since a draw (against a knockout win over Jones) against Cormier at UCF 214 last year.

The UFC 230 will be installed later tonight (Saturday, November 3, 2018) live à la carte from the Madison Square Garden in New York.

MMAmania.com will provide the live broadcast, turn-based, of the entire UFC 230 combat card on the night of combat (click here), starting with the Fight Pass online matches "Prelims", which must start at 18:15 ET, the remaining balance of the sub-card on FOX Sports 1 to 20 hours. HE, before the start time of the main PPV card at 22 o'clock. AND.