It appears that Jon Jones’
return to combat sports won’t be in the Ultimate Fighting
Championship.
The former UFC light heavyweight champion on Saturday announced via
Twitter that he will compete against Bellator heavyweight Jake Hager
in a grappling match at a Fury Pro Grappling event in New Jersey on
Dec. 9. Multiple outlets have since confirmed that the match is in
the works. Fury Pro Grappling is run by MMA organization Cage Fury
Fighting Championships and streams on UFC Fight Pass.
“Breaking News!! I’m excited to announce I’ll be competing for the
number one grappling organization in the world, Fury Grappling!”
Jones wrote on Twitter. “December 9th I’ll be in New Jersey
competing against WWE superstar and undefeated Bellator heavyweight
Jack Swagger.”
Breaking News!! I’m excited to announce I’ll
be competing for the number one grappling organization in the
world, Fury Grappling! December 9th I’ll be in New Jersey competing
against WWE superstar and undefeated Bellator heavyweight Jack
swagger— BONY (@JonnyBones)
November 20, 2021
Jones has been training for a move to heavyweight in the UFC but
hasn’t competed in the Octagon since defending his light
heavyweight crown against Dominick
Reyes in February 2020. “Bones”, a junior college national
champion wrestler at Iowa Central Community College, has since
vacated the 205-pound belt. Jones recently made headlines when he
was
arrested while in Las Vegas for a UFC Hall of Fame induction
ceremony this past September for battery domestic violence and
vehicle tampering.
Hager, 39, has compiled a 3-0 record with one on contest while
competing under the Bellator MMA banner. Known as “Jack Swagger” as
a professional wrestler with AEW, Hager was an All-American
wrestler at the University of Oklahoma. Hager responded to Jones’
announcement by revealing that both sides haven’t agreed to terms
for the match.
“We can talk if terms are right,” Hager wrote on Twitter.