Jon Jones’ advisor to meet UFC brass this weekend to discuss long-awaited return and potential Francis Ngannou mega-bout
JON JONES’ advisor Richard Schaefer will meet with the UFC brass this weekend to discuss the MMA legend’s return to the octagon.
The former long-reigning light-heavyweight champion hasn’t set foot inside the octagon in nearly TWO years, with his last outing being a fiercely debated title defence against Dominick Reyes.
Jones’ hiatus from the cage has in large part been down to a contractual dispute with the UFC, which Schaefer hopes to hash out in the coming days.
The former Golden Boy Promotions CEO told SunSport: “He is willing, ready and able to fight whoever we can get for the heavyweight title.
“The reason why I just don’t say Francis Ngannou; I’d love to put together a Francis Ngannou fight and I’m in conversations with the UFC.
“And as a matter of fact, I’m going to be meeting with them this weekend here in Los Angeles.”
Jones, 33, was targeting a blockbuster showdown with heavyweight king Ngannou before he opted to see out the remainder of 2021 – which he used to continue putting on size.
But Ngannou’s own contractual issues with the UFC brass – as well as his possible nine-month stint on the sidelines after his upcoming knee surgery – have thrown the bout into further doubt.
LATEST IN SUN BINGO AND VEGAS
Schaefer said: “I think Francis Ngannou has some issues. One side is contractual. How’s that going to play out?
“We’ve seen there’s a lack of communication from Team Ngannou and the UFC.
“[Talks] have virtually come to a standstill and legal letters were exchanged.
“But then he has, as I understand as well, possibly the need for an operation because of his torn ligaments.
“I don’t know what exactly he has, so I don’t even know if he’s available.”
Regardless of the availability of Ngannou, Jones is eager to make his long-awaited return to action this year.
Schaefer continued: “But we want to fight. Jon wants to fight and Jon wants to fight for the heavyweight title. And Jon is the kind of guy who fights anyone no problem.
“So I’m going to see if I can try to put that together. But Jon Jones is, as I said, the Floyd Mayweather of the UFC.
“He’s a legend, he’s undefeated and he is in a league of his own.”
Despite the promotion’s ongoing issues with Ngannou, UFC president Dana White is keen to make a money-spinning bout between the vicious knockout artist and Jones.
During an ESPN+ fan Q&A, the veteran promoter told Laura Sanko: “I don’t know.
“I’m hoping that will be one of the big fights this year. If we can pull that one off, we definitely will.”
Former pound-for-pound king Jones was a keen observer of Ngannou’s title defence against Ciryl Gane earlier this month, which the Predator won via unanimous decision.
The UFC Hall-of-Famer was far impressed by the pair’s respective showings and made that known on Twitter midway through the fight.
And, according to Schaefer, Bones firmly believes he’d get the better of both men.
He said: “It’s actually funny, some media guys text me before the fight and I said, ‘I think Jon Jones would beat either Ciryl Gane or Francis Ngannou.’
“And I texted back and forth with Jon after the fight and he said, ‘Yeah, I beat both [guys].
“‘There’s no question about it, I beat both guys.”
Jones took a giant step towards returning to the octagon last month when he accepted a plea deal in a domestic battery case against him in Nevada.
The fan favourite was initially was charged with misdemeanour domestic battery and felony tampering with a vehicle.
The domestic battery charge was dropped and Jones pled nolo contendere to ‘destroying the property of another’.
According to court records, Jones was ordered to pay £562 in restitution to his alleged victim, told to undergo anger-management counselling and instructed to stay out of trouble.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS