Looks like there is light at end of the tunnel for the former UFC light heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, as UFC president Dana White confirmed that he will bypass any other potential contender and receive an immediate title shot when he returns to the Octagon.
On Wednesday, May 20, UFC president Dana White made an appearance on Jim Rome's show where he opened up about UFC 187 and all things MMA. Citing that Jon Jones was supposed to feature on Saturday's event, the former UFC light heavyweight champion was obviously part of the conversation.
Jon Jones still has a long legal road ahead of him following his involvement in the recent hit-and-run accident, in which a 20-year-old pregnant woman suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital. The former UFC champ reportedly had fled the scene at the time.
Jones, who was scheduled to meet Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 on May 23, was stripped of his light heavyweight title and suspended indefinitely following the alleged hit-and-run in late April, Yahoo Sports noted.
While Johnson is now slated to face Daniel Cormier for the vacant title, fans are already questioning what exactly the UFC has in prospect for Jones if and when he ever returns to the UFC.
That being said, Jon Jones is still awaiting word on his court date and charges likely to stem from the accident. The only thing that might take the load of his mind is that if he can get everything sorted out in his personal life, and decides he wants to continue fighting, the UFC will grant him an automatic title shot, according to reports on FOX Sports.
The UFC boss told Jim Rome that "he comes right back and fights for the title." He further added, "he hasn't had the time that Anderson Silva's had, but he's the most dominant champion."
Dana White even lauded the former light heavyweight champion saying that, "If you look at the murderer's row of the 205-pound division that he went through, and he went through it like a hot knife through butter. He's the man."
"Whenever he gets his stuff together, he'd come right back and fight for the title," Dana White affirmed.
That being said, Dana White acknowledges that the main event on Saturday is very important. Irrespective of either Johnson or Cormier winning, the 205-pound division will see its first new champion in four years, and though White wants to see one of his greatest assets return to the Octagon soon, he admits that Jon Jones' future is currently up in the air. However, if Jones does return to the UFC, he needs to show that he is a changed man.
Talking about Jon Jones' possible return to the UFC, Dana White said "let's see how he gets through this and see where his head is. How does he handle himself through this situation and after it?"
Dana White noted that once Jon Jones gets through the civil suit against him, chances are that he is either going to end up with a felony or jail time, or a felony as well as jail time. White added that the company will see how it goes, further emphasizing on how important this Saturday is for UFC.
