UFC Fights Schedule: Jon Jones Set to Return at UFC 198 in New York City
The UFC announced late September that it will be holding UFC 198 in New York City on April 23, 2016 at the Madison Square Garden, per MMA Junkie. The rumored main event for the card is the rematch between Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier for the latter's UFC light heavyweight championship.
Jones recently posted a photo on his private Instagram account via Reddit MMA, showing his new physique and comparing it to his 2013 self. The former pound-for-pound best fighter in the world is in very good shape and is close to being ready for his first fight since January.
"Bones" also said on the post that he has five more months to prepare for his next fight and he will be at his best [on] April 23. Even though there is an announced event on that date, MMA must be legalized first in the state of New York before the UFC can hold an event, per Sherdog.
The 28-year-old was formally reinstated by the UFC last Oct. 23 when he reached a plea agreement with Albuquerque officials regarding a hit-and-run accident involving a pregnant woman last April. In a separate report by MMA Junkie, Jones reportedly pleaded guilty to one felony charge of leaving the scene of an accident but has avoided jail time when he was granted a conditional discharge.
He was also given 18 months of supervised probation and has to make 72 speaking appearances. In his absence, Cormier defeated Anthony "Rumble" Johnson to win the vacant title last May 23 in UFC 187. The current light heavyweight champion lost to Jones last UFC 182 via unanimous decision and is open to facing Jones in a rematch.
However, Cormier said after his win over Alexander Gustafsson in UFC 192 that he won't fight Jones in a rematch in New York City. "I don't think DC has any choice in the matter. Everybody knows who the champion is. If Jon wants to fight him in February, March, April, May, June, July, whatever, I think DC should just step up and take the fight," Malki Kawa, Jones' manager, told The MMA Hour last October.
According to Yahoo! Sports, if MMA won't be legalized in New York before April 23, Cormier-Jones 2 should headline UFC 200 in July in Las Vegas, Nevada at the newly built MGM Arena. Along with a possible debut for Phil "CM Punk" Brooks and a rematch between Holly Holm and Ronda Rousey, the event may be the best UFC fight card in history.
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