Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones's road to redemption has begun after a six-month suspension, following an incident last April. Jones has signed his first sponsor, a new deal with GAT, one of the leading manufacturers of sports nutrition products, per MMA Fighting.

"I am very grateful to have such a terrific brand like GAT sponsors me as one of their athletes. I look forward to working with TEAMGAT and to taking the GAT brand with me in becoming the number one name in MMA," Jones said in a press release.

GAT vice president Mark Post was really happy with the addition of Jones, expecting it to open the door for other MMA fighters to be sponsored by the brand. GAT CEO Charles Moser released a statement via Sherdog on the signing of Jones.

"This is a very exciting athlete signing for GAT. Jon Jones is regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, and we want to support Jon's mission to once again become the world light heavyweight champion. GAT strives to help all of our elite athletes reach their greatest potential, and be the champions of their sport," Moser said.

Other athletes sponsored by GAT are bodybuilder Dennis James, physique competitor Sadik Hadzovic, strongman Robert Oberst, Fitness & Lifestyle coach Anette De La Rosa and fitness model Francine Slobodnik, per the GAT website.

"Bones" lost all of his sponsors when he was arrested last April after a hit-and-run accident involving a pregnant woman in Albuquerque, New Mexico. MMA Fighting reports that he lost all of his sponsors including Reebok, MuscleTech and Gatorade.

The UFC formally reinstated Jones from his suspension last Oct. 23 when he reached a plea agreement with Albuquerque officials. He 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 given 18 months of supervised probation and 72 speaking appearances, per MMA Junkie.

Yahoo! Sports reported that Dana White told Jim Rome of CBS Sports Radio last summer that the 28-year-old former champion would immediately get an opportunity to recapture the title he never lost once he is reinstated. Current light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier is open to facing Jones in a rematch after losing their first encounter at UFC 182 last January.

Jones' manager Malki Kawa suggested in an interview with The MMA Hour that it would be perfect for the New York-native ex-champion to make his comeback in his home state. However, MMA is still illegal in the state of New York, but the UFC has a tentatively scheduled event on April 23, 2016 at Madison Square Garden.