mma / News
Jon Jones Vacates UFC Light Heavyweight Title, Says He’s Negotiating With UFC For Heavyweight Fight
Jon Jones announced on Monday that he has vacated the UFC light heavyweight title that he has held off and on since 2011, confirming that it’s “officially up for grabs” after contract negotiations between him and UFC fell apart.
“Just got off the phone with @Ufc, today I confirm that I’m vacating the light heavyweight championship. It’s officially up for grabs. It’s been an amazing journey, sincere thank you to all my competition, Ufc and most importantly you fans.”
“The last I spoke with @UFC about my salary there was no negotiating. If that ever changes, i’d love to come back and compete again as a heavyweight. Until then, I’ll be enjoying Ufc has a fan and doing my best to take care of my family and community”
Jones then tweeted two hours later that he had a positive conversation with UFC and that the two sides are negotiating his next fight at heavyweight.
“Just had a really positive conversation with @Ufc. Sounds like there will be negotiations for my next fight at heavy weight. All good news, the weight gaining process begins.”
Jones has been discussing moving up to heavyweight for months and has said in the past that he’d like to fight Francis Ngannou. He then said after Stipe Miocic’s win over Daniel Cormier at UFC 252 on Saturday that he’d be seeing the heavyweight title soon.
“Heavyweight world championships I will be seeing you real soon. Victorious”
Dana White has insisted Ngannou is next in line to face Miocic, meaning Jones would not get an immediate title shot at heavyweight.
Regardless of what happens between him and UFC, Jones said that he will remain in the USADA drug-testing pool so that he can remain eligible to fight should a deal be worked out.
“In good faith I will be staying in the testing pool for probably the next half year or so. I’ll continue to lift weights and train all the different martial arts”
Just got off the phone with @Ufc, today I confirm that I’m vacating the light heavyweight championship. It’s officially up for grabs. It’s been an amazing journey, sincere thank you to all my competition, Ufc and most importantly you fans.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 17, 2020
The last I spoke with @UFC about my salary there was no negotiating. If that ever changes, i’d love to come back and compete again as a heavyweight. Until then, I’ll be enjoying Ufc has a fan and doing my best to take care of my family and community https://t.co/NoTTpRTMH0
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 17, 2020
Just had a really positive conversation with @Ufc. Sounds like there will be negotiations for my next fight at heavy weight. All good news, the weight gaining process begins.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 17, 2020
In good faith I will be staying in the testing pool for probably the next half year or so. I’ll continue to lift weights and train all the different martial arts
— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 17, 2020
