Former UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones teased a blockbuster return this year. He is ready to move up and conquer the heavyweight division.
Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is considered as one of the greatest MMA athletes of all time. The 35-year-old cleared the light heavyweight division and defended the title many times. Jones is technically undefeated, having only one loss which was via disqualification.
However, a huge mark on his record stems from the fact he tested positive for PEDs on multiple occasions.
Jon Jones also had a lot of legal issues stemming from erratic behavior. He was suspended from the UFC with his latest match dating back to 2020. Now, Jones is ready to return and will be competing in the heavyweight division.
Previously, the UFC was trying to book him against former champion Stipe Miocic for the interim heavyweight belt. However, the match fell through. But it looks like Jones will have a better matchup for his return: a title bout against current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
Their match is currently in the works, with both parties still in negotiations. Some sources report that talks have been slowed, but they’re still trying to make it happen.
Meanwhile, Jones recently took to his Twitter account to tease his return. He simply posted a hashtag of “Champion2023”, hinting his blockbuster return will be in this year.
As for Francis Ngannou, he hasn’t been in the octagon for almost a year. Last time he competed was in January where he faced Ciryl Gane.
‘The Predator’ successfully defeated Gane via unanimous decision, marking his first title defense. In the aftermath, Ngannou revealed he tore his ligaments during a sparring session and had undergone surgery in March.
Ngannou was spotted recently in Africa, with a member of his family curiously sporting a PFL t-shirt. Ngannou is rumored to have already become a free agent.
“Well, this is the plan [to face Jones in March 2023], but when you make a plan, you have to go step-by-step. Let’s settle the contract first. It is still pending [the renewal of contract with the UFC]. We’re still working on it.” Ngannou said to Combate.