Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been out of action since failing a USADA issued drug test in line with UFC 214.
Chael Sonnen has fought Jon Jones before and he thinks that Jones believes a return to action will take place this November at UFC 230.
“If we are to believe that he is going to be out until summer of next year, which is the minimum that he would be out by the rules that have been explained to us,” Sonnen said on Beyond the Fight. “If we were to believe that, you would have to ask yourself ‘why is he training and putting out videos, and having coaches confirm that he is working now in August?’ It just does appear that Jon at least believes that he is about to be cleared and put onto that November card.”
Jones is still awaiting punishment from USADA, as the California State Athletic Commission (CSAC) is the only group that has punished the fighter at this point.
Sonnen also believes that if Jones does return, it could be up a weight class so he can challenge UFC Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier for the gold.
“If you’re Dana White and you gotta look at that and take Daniel at his word, and ‘this is my one and only shot perhaps to get Daniel and Jon together’, do you go for it? And even if you do, how do you get it done? Because you can’t get it done at 205 pounds because Daniel can’t make 205 pounds. So do you get it done at heavyweight? And if you do, everything’s on the line now. Not just the title, the Brock Lesnar fight is now on the line,” says Sonnen.
UFC 230 takes place on Saturday, November 3 from Madison Square Garden in New York, New York with no main event announced at this time. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
