JON JONES has hinted his long-awaited return to the octagon is right around the corner.
The former long-reigning light-heavyweight champion hasn’t set foot inside the cage in nearly THREE YEARS due to the pandemic and a public pay spat with the UFC brass.
Jon Jones hasn’t set foot inside the octagon in nearly three yearsGETTY
INSTAGRAM@JONNYBONESJones has used his time on the sidelines to bulk up for his long-awaited heavyweight debut[/caption]
And the former pound-for-pound king has seemingly teased an imminent return
SunSport revealed last year that negotiations over a new bumper deal for the former pound-for-pound king had borne fruit.
Jones was on course to return to the cage late last year but a fight with former heavyweight king Stipe Miocic failed to materialise.
But Bones has hinted he could soon be back in action by tweeting: “#Champion2023.”
A fight with current heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou is currently in the works, although sources close to the negotiations recently revealed to SunSport that talks have been somewhat slowed.
Ngannou has yet to finalise a new deal with the UFC and the feeling is Cameroonian has been given “plenty of time to make up his mind.”
The Predator is hoping to face Jones later this year, telling: Combate: “Well, this is the plan [to fight Jones in March 2023], but when you make a plan, you have to go step-by-step.
“Let’s settle the contract first.
“It is still pending [the renewal of contract with the UFC]. We’re still working on it.
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“We’re not finished yet. I’ve always wanted to stay in the UFC.
“I just want things the right way. I just want a better [contract] structure to have a better future.
“I’m excited. I’m excited to get back to the Octagon, but in good condition, with a good structure.
“It would be a good money fight. But there are many money fights. They can have many money fights.”
A showdown with heavyweight king Francis Ngannou is in the works for JonesGETTY
Jones, 35, has used his time on the sidelines to bulk up for his long-awaited move up to heavyweight – which has been talked about for upwards of a decade.
And Bones is planning to become a two-division champion in style.
He tweeted: “My goal, my dream is to have my first heavyweight title fight look like my first light heavyweight title fight.
“Pure domination.”