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The long confusing saga associated with Jon Jones' latest drug suspension has finally found a solution, and the former lightweight heavyweight champion could be back in the Octagon before the end of the summer. ;year.
ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 29: Jon Jones prepares to enter the octagon before facing Daniel Cormier in his UFC heavyweight championship fight at the UFC 214 event at the Honda Center on July 29, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
This article has been updated since its publication.
By Brett Okamoto from ESPN.comJones will receive a 15-month suspension (retroactive to his last activity on Octagon) and will be authorized by USADA to resume his duties on October 28th. He might face an additional punishment from the UFC, but considering what we have seen from the promotion with other popular fighters like Conor McGregor and Brock Lesnar, this seems unlikely.
Because the referees have ruled that Jones had "no intention" to cheat, it is much easier for the UFC to release him without further delay. Here is the complete announcement of USADA:
Here is the complete announcement of USADA. Jones went quietly to officiating last week and in my opinion he won a big win. pic.twitter.com/2BjRAGPTFN
– Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 19, 2018
Jones' availability aligns favorably on the UFC because he is eligible to return in time for UFC 230 to Madison Square Garden, in his home state of New York. The show is without major event, as many have speculated that the UFC held this spot for Jones in anticipation of a favorable decision from the referee.
Jones' return to the show has not been confirmed and, at the time of publication, the UFC has not yet commented on the arbitrator's decision. However, there is a press conference for UFC 229 scheduled tomorrow where media mounds will be present to see McGregor and UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, face off for the first time before their confrontation on October 6th. An announcement on Jones' next fight could then take place.
It was always a bit odd to keep McGregor away from the UFC 230 card once he was allowed to return to action, but if the UFC had a intuition or reason to believe that Jones would be available a few weeks later, it is possible that the former opponent of Jones, Alexander Gustafsson, is ready to face him in a rematch on the card.
He says that he could be ready:
The ball continues to roll. Has spoken to a representative of Gustafsson, and the current position is that he might be ready to fight by the UFC 230.
– Steven Marrocco (@MMAjunkieSteven) September 20, 2018
Before talking about a possible Jones fight in the main event of UFC 230, the card was already solid. Jacare Souza will face David Branch. Dustin Poirier confronts Nate Diaz and Derek Brunson confronts Israel Adesanya, a very popular charismatic. If Jones is on the map, and that he is facing someone of notorious, this could make sure that the MSG shows a gigantic event.
UPDATE
According to Dana White, Jones will not be on the UFC 230 card and he looks forward to seeing him in early 2019.
Comment by Dana White on Jon Jones: pic.twitter.com/WQXET01jYy
– Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 20, 2018
An early return early next year deprives him of any consideration for the main event of UFC 230. Unless something changes with Jones, this place will remain open for the moment.
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The long confusing saga associated with Jon Jones' latest drug suspension has finally found a solution, and the former lightweight heavyweight champion could be back in the Octagon before the end of the summer. ;year.
ANAHEIM, CA – JULY 29: Jon Jones prepares to enter the octagon before facing Daniel Cormier in his UFC heavyweight championship fight at the UFC 214 event at the Honda Center on July 29, 2017 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Jeff Bottari / Zuffa LLC / Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
This article has been updated since its publication.
By Brett Okamoto from ESPN.comJones will receive a 15-month suspension (retroactive to his last activity on Octagon) and will be authorized by USADA to resume his duties on October 28th. He might face additional punishment from the UFC's promotion with other popular fighters like Conor McGregor and Brock Lesnar, that seems unlikely.
Because the referees have ruled that Jones had "no intention" to cheat, it is much easier for the UFC to release him without further delay. Here is the complete announcement of USADA:
Here is the complete announcement of USADA. Jones went quietly to officiating last week and in my opinion he won a big win. pic.twitter.com/2BjRAGPTFN
– Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 19, 2018
Jones' availability aligns favorably on the UFC because he is eligible to return in time for UFC 230 to Madison Square Garden, in his home state of New York. The show is without major event, as many have speculated that the UFC held this spot for Jones in anticipation of a favorable decision from the referee.
Jones' return to the show has not been confirmed and, at the time of publication, the UFC has not yet commented on the arbitrator's decision. However, there is a press conference for UFC 229 scheduled tomorrow where media mounds will be present to see McGregor and UFC lightweight champion, Khabib Nurmagomedov, face off for the first time before their confrontation on October 6th. An announcement on Jones' next fight could then take place.
It was always a bit odd to keep McGregor away from the UFC 230 card once he was allowed to return to action, but if the UFC had a intuition or reason to believe that Jones would be available a few weeks later, everything makes sense. It is possible that the former opponent of Jones, Alexander Gustafsson, is ready to face him in a rematch on the card.
He says that he could be ready:
The ball continues to roll. Has spoken to a representative of Gustafsson, and the current position is that he might be ready to fight by the UFC 230.
– Steven Marrocco (@MMAjunkieSteven) September 20, 2018
Before talking about a possible Jones fight in the main event of UFC 230, the card was already solid. Jacare Souza will face David Branch. Dustin Poirier confronts Nate Diaz and Derek Brunson confronts Israel Adesanya, a very popular charismatic. If Jones is on the map, and that he is facing someone of notorious, this could make sure that the MSG shows a gigantic event.
UPDATE
According to Dana White, Jones will not be on the UFC 230 card and he looks forward to seeing him in early 2019.
Comment by Dana White on Jon Jones: pic.twitter.com/WQXET01jYy
– Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) September 20, 2018
An early return early next year deprives him of any consideration for the main event of UFC 230. Unless something changes with Jones, this place will remain open for the moment.
