Yesterday afternoon, the Nevada State Athletic Commission convened to discuss a number of high priority issues. After finalizing the punishments of Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor, they closed out the meeting by deciding whether or not they would grant Jon Jones a license to compete against Anthony Smith at UFC 235 on March 2 in Las Vegas.
In the end, it was decided that Jones would be granted a license on a one-fight basis, meaning his fight with Smith can go ahead as planned.
After the hearing had wrapped up, and his license had been acquired, Jon Jones addressed the room. See his impassioned closing statement at the top of this post.
”I just wanted to make a quick statement saying thank you so much,” Jones said (transcript via MMA Mania). “To USADA, to the Nevada State Athletic Commission, my team, the UFC, mainly the fans, everyone for sticking by me through this process, allowing me to say my piece, to go through this process and eventually prove my innocence.
”I’m super grateful to be back fighting in Nevada,” he continued. “Excited for March 2nd, it’s going to be a magnificent event. And just really looking forward to all the testing. Looking forward to getting back in front of the fans and putting on great fights. So guys, thank you guys, the MMA media for being here covering this. And I’ll see you at UFC 235. God bless you!”
Jon Jones last fought on December 29, in the main event of UFC 232, where he defeated his long-time rival Alexander Gustafsson to reclaim the UFC light heavyweight title, which was recently vacated by Daniel Cormier. Stay tuned for further updates on his turbulent career as they emerge.
This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 1/29/2019.
Jose Aldo was originally supposed to fight Dominick Cruz at UFC 301 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on May 4.
It was announced that Aldo will be returning to the Octagon and fighting at UFC 301 and will be taking on Jonathan Martinez. Although Martinez is a tough test for the former champ, Aldo revealed to Sportsnet’s Aaron Bronsteter, that the original plan was for him to fight Cruz but the former champ had an injury in camp.
UFC president Dana White has granted welterweight contender Joaquin Buckley’s wish to compete in his hometown next month.
White announced on Wednesday that Buckley will face 6’5″ welterweight Nursulton Ruziboev in the UFC St. Louis co-main event on May 11th. At the UFC 300 pre-fight press conference, Buckley hijacked the microphone to implore White to give him a main event slot in St. Louis.
UFC welterweight prospect Mike Malott will look to avenge his first career loss against a former The Ultimate Fighter finalist.
According to reports, Malott will face TUF 29 standout Gilbert Urbina on July 13th at a to-be-announced location and venue. News of the Malott vs. Urbina fight was first reported by Sportsnet.
Anthony Smith is hopeful to secure a future fight with Alex Pereira.
Smith and Pereira have taken shots at each other in the past, and now that the Brazilian is the light heavyweight champion, ‘Lionheart’ is hopeful he can face him down the line. Smith believes it would be a fan-friendly fight as he says he would step in the fire with the Brazilian.
UFC light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira has sent a message of support to Charles Oliveira.
It was a very different night for the two Brazilians at UFC 300 earlier this month. Both men fought on the main card of the historic event, with Alex Pereira headlining it. ‘Poatan’ faced former champion Jamahal Hill in the main event, while Charles Oliveira met Arman Tsarukyan on the main card in a title eliminator.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is now back in training for his return to the cage.
‘Bones’ has been out of action since a first-round submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 last year. That win snapped a three-year hiatus for the former light-heavyweight and also saw him earn heavyweight gold. Jon Jones famously won the title that Francis Ngannou left vacant upon his exit from the company last year.
Arman Tsarukyan isn’t happy with UFC lightweight champion Islam Makhachev.
The Armenian fighter is fresh off his return at UFC 300 against Charles Oliveira. There, the two lightweights competed in a title eliminator of sorts, and put on a show. After three rounds of action, it was Arman Tsarukyan who emerged with a split-decision victory over ‘Do Bronx’. In the process, he earned a shot at Islam Makhachev.
Jamahal Hill has opened as the betting favorite ahead of his UFC 303 fight against Khalil Rountree.
Hill is making a quick turnaround after losing to Alex Pereira by first-round knockout at UFC 300 for the light heavyweight title. Despite being knocked out, Hill will return on June 29 against Rountree, which the UFC announced would be the co-main event of UFC 303. Of course, the main event sees Conor McGregor taking on Michael Chandler.
