Jon Jones has a '95% chance' of returning in 2018, says businessman

J. Jones (photo) could return in 2018 (Photo: Reproduction Twitter ufc_brasil)

Jon Jones was caught in an anti-doping test at UFC 214, in July 2017, and could be suspended for up to four years. However, the light heavyweight's hook may be much smaller than expected. According to 'Bones' manager Malki Kawa, the former light heavyweight champion could return to the Octagon in 2018.

According to Kawa, the fighter's legal team hopes to prove that Jones did not use any illegal substances with the intention of cheating. The businessman also stated that there is a '95% chance' that Jon will return to compete in 2018.

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“We will have a hearing with the California Athletic Commission at the end of February, at which I believe we will have more clarity on the matter. We hope that the USADA investigation will be concluded by then. I hope everything happens this way, and I believe that by the end of March, everything will definitely be resolved. I would say there is a 95% chance that he will fight again in 2018”, said Kawa, in an interview with the “Luke Thomas Show”, a program on the MMA Fighting website.

Without wanting to go into details, Kawa guarantees that the fighter presented evidence that guarantees his client's innocence. The businessman also highlighted the respect of USADA (US Anti-Doping Agency) to deal with the case.

“If USADA is a reputable organization, and I believe it is, they will compile all the information they obtained, all the interviews they did and everything they analyzed, and see that Jon Jones did not cheat, and that he did not intentionally use any type of substance. I believe they know this, and that everyone can reach this same conclusion based on the circumstances. That’s as much as I’m going to say on the matter at this point, because it’s obviously ongoing.”

Jones' doping

Jones was spotted before his fight against Daniel Cormier at UFC 214. The exam showed the presence of the anabolic steroid Turinabol. However, as the result was only announced after the event, 'Bones' defeated his rival, but had the victory reversed to a No Contest (fight without result).

Before that, in 2016, he was removed from UFC 200 and ended up suspended for a year after testing positive for clomiphene, an estrogen blocker, in a test carried out outside the competition period.