Jon Jones vs. Daniel Cormier: Dana White Says It Was a 'Good Thing' That Jones Didn't Fight Cormier at UFC 197
On Saturday, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones made his return after more a yearlong absence.
After serving his indefinite suspension due to traffic misdemeanors and being reinstated back into the UFC last October, "Bones" made his return at UFC 197 against top ten-ranked contender Ovince Saint Preux. Jones did emerge victorious via unanimous decision, subsequently awarding him with the interim 205-pound title.
However, many critiqued his performance for being unsatisfactory, attributing it mainly to ring rust.
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"It definitely wasn't the performance most expected, but Jon Jones won the UFC interim light heavyweight title with a decision win over Ovince Saint Preux," said Bloody Elbow's Tim Burke, speaking of Jones' performance.
Apparently, UFC president Dana White is in agreement with majority of the sentiments. Speaking to FOX Sports 1's Megan Olivi, the outspoken UFC executive says Jones "looked rusty", a very unlikely sight compared to his brutally dominant performances in the past.
"Jon Jones looked rusty tonight and it was a really good thing for him that it was OSP tonight, the sixth-ranked guy, and not Cormier, because he was able to get some rounds under his belt, get in there and feel himself out. Now he knows what he has to do when he gets back in the gym."
White added that Jones' performance was far from his "world-beater" persona, but noted that the important thing was he was able to come out victorious.
With his win, Jones is now slated to face undisputed champion Daniel Cormier to unify the light heavyweight belts. Cormier was the original opponent scheduled for Jones to fight, but he was forced out of the contest due to a leg injury he sustained in training.
In another report by ESPN, White says Jones and Cormier may headline the upcoming blockbuster event UFC 200 on July 9th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, should both fighters be deemed healthy to compete.
