UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones mentioned he’ll endure surgical procedure on Friday to restore a torn pectoral tendon that scratched him from his UFC 295 headliner towards Stipe Miocic.
From there, Jones mentioned he’ll do bodily remedy for “a number of months” to restore his damage however plans to “get again to work as quickly as doable,” he mentioned in a video posted on Thursday night to his Instagram account.
Jones, in Los Angeles to see a UFC-recommended physician, apologized to followers and Miocic for having to bow out of the struggle, which marked the primary protection of the title he claimed after Francis Ngannou left the promotion and was stripped of the belt.
“Clearly, very unhappy state of affairs, very upset,” Jones mentioned. “However I’ve been via a whole lot of issues in life, and accidents are part of being an athlete. I need to thank the UFC for getting me in to the most effective docs within the nation.
“I wished to say thanks to Stipe Miocic for all of the work that he’s put in. Additionally, sorry to Stipe and his group. Like I mentioned, this comes with the territory.”
Jones posted one other video earlier this week that appeared to point out the second he was injured, a wrestling sequence the place he audibly cried out in ache. UFC CEO Dana White on Tuesday introduced Jones’ damage and a substitute heavyweight co-headliner between high contenders Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich, who will struggle for an interim title. UFC 295 is now headlined by a lightweight heavyweight title struggle between Jiri Prochazka and Alex Pereira.
White expects Jones to want eight months to recuperate from the damage; when the champ is wholesome, the struggle with Miocic is anticipated to be rescheduled.
Aspinall on Wednesday instructed The MMA Hour that the UFC anticipated Jones and Miocic might each retire after dealing with one another at UFC 295, after which he would face Pavlovich for the vacant title.
It’s unclear how Jones’ damage has modified his profession timeline, however for now, he’ll soldier on.
“I suppose it will likely be Stipe and I at a later date, and that’s my plan,” Jones mentioned. “Hopefully, these different heavyweights, Aspinall and Sergei, put it on an excellent present for you guys. I could even present as much as the occasion to look at. However I really like you all, and hey, your boy Jon Jones is doing OK.”
Jones’ full video is under.
