Jon Jones is set to return to the UFC, with Ariel Helwani stating that multiple sources say Jones will make his comeback at light heavyweight against Alexander Gustafsson for UFC 232 on the 29th of December in Las Vegas.
Breaking: Jon Jones vs. Alexander Gustafsson 2 is set for UFC 232 on Dec. 29 in Las Vegas. More: pic.twitter.com/sB49isFzFZ
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) October 10, 2018
Jones has already fought the Swede before in his UFC career in a bout that has been called one of the greatest in UFC history. Jones won that fight via unanimous decision, but there was controversy around the result with both fighters suffering a lot of damage during the contest.
One fight that had been mentioned is a trilogy bout with Daniel Cormier. Cormier lost the last two fights with Jones, though the second was ruled a no contest after Jones failed a drug test.
But Jones has recently said that he will not seek another fight with Cormier, telling ESPN that he doesn't need to fight his rival again to be considered an all-time great:
I already have all the marbles when it comes to Daniel Cormier. I’ve beaten him twice. This game has never been personal. What is personal to me is chasing greatness, not individuals. So in the case of myself and Daniel Cormier, he needs to fight myself one more time if he ever wants to be considered one of the all-time greats. I don’t need to fight him again to be considered one of the all-time greats.
Cormier will be stripped of his light heavyweight title by the time UFC 232 rolls around, with Jones and Gustafsson fighting for the belt.
Jones is returning from a 15 month suspension for testing positive for a banned steroid in the aftermath of his 2017 fight with Cormier.
Cormier will defend his other heavyweight belt at UFC 230 against Derrick Lewis, but with animosity still there with Jones don't count out a trilogy somewhere down the line.
