Next Tuesday is shaping up to be a big day in UFC history.
On Tuesday morning, October 10, the Nevada State Athletic Commission will meet to discuss the bottle-throwing fracas that took place before UFC 202 and the failed drug test of stripped light heavyweight interim champion Jon Jones.
While Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz are likely to face fines, and possible community service, for their part in the 202 bedlam, Jones could find his path to a fighting return cleared.
Jones failed a drug test before UFC 200, where he was scheduled to fight in the main event against Daniel Cormier. He tested positive for clomiphene and letrozol and faces a suspension and a fine of anything up to two years.
However, there are suggestions that Jones unknowingly took the performance enhancing drugs so he could yet escape with a six-month ban, similar to the one imposed on Yoel Romero.
Jones took to Twitter last night to interact with his followers and his UFC return soon cropped up.
thanks for bringing that up, proud to say I'm over a year completely clean & sober https://t.co/5oZnEqyHeH
— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 23, 2016
Asked if he was back with the promotion yet, Jones replied.
Nope not yet, guess we will all know more October 10th https://t.co/QcKh7N42us
— BONY (@JonnyBones) September 23, 2016
The commission have already been brought up to speed on Jones’ case so a decision should be handed down at the hearing. Dana White is set to host a UFC 205 press conference at Madison Square Garden later that same day so the subject of Jones’ future will definitely arise.
Jones has been keeping close to fight shape but it is unlikely he would be a shock headliner announcement for the New York show.
Reigning light heavyweight champion Daniel Cormier insists he is nowhere near ready for a title fight on November 12 and Jones believes it is “convenient” he is trying to push to No.1 contendership to Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson.
Last night, two more fights were added to the UFC 205 card with Miesha Tate getting a bantamweight bout with Raquel Pennington and women’s straw-weight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk up against Polish compatriot Karolina Kowalkiewicz
