BREAKING: Jon Jones vacates title – No longer light heavyweight champ
After many months of botched negotiations and deteriorating relations things have finally culminated in this. It’s official: Jon Jones is no longer light heavyweight champion as he will vacate his title. Jones announced the news via Twitter.
“Just got off the phone with (The UFC), today I confirm that I’m vacating the light heavyweight championship,” Jones wrote. “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 relations between Jones and the UFC began worsening when the two parties failed to reach an agreement regarding the former light heavyweight champ moving up to heavyweight to face Francis Ngannou. No agreement was reached and neither side was satisfied with negotiations, putting the blame on the opposite side. The UFC claimed that Jones was asking for unreasonable amounts of money, while Jones maintained he was simply asking his worth, and that the UFC was lying.
- Jon Jones upset with the UFC over superfight pay: “Bad business”
- See Jon Jones wrestle with Jackass’ Steve-O
- Jon Jones asks UFC to send contract for Francis Ngannou fight
- Dana White offers to take lie detector test with Jon Jones
- Jon Jones reaches out to fighters – Claims he was “ripped off” by UFC
Despite this, it seems Jones may still remain in the UFC. Shortly after his cryptic message, he followed up with one more post that was much more jovial in tone. In it he stated that he will negotiate for competing in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
“Just had a really positive conversation with (The UFC),” Jones wrote in his post. “Sounds like there will be negotiations for my next fight at heavy weight. All good news, the weight gaining process begins.”
While not confirmed, this could very well mean that the planned light heavyweight bout between top contenders Dominick Reyes and Jan Blachowicz gets promoted to a battle for the vacant title. Perennial contender Alexander Gustafsson made his comeback to the UFC earlier this year, though at heavyweight. The light heavyweight title being vacant could mean a fourth try for the Swede to win the coveted title.
As of now it remains to be seen what happens to the light heavyweight title, when we see Jones compete next – And who he faces.
