Swedish Light Heavyweight Contender Ilir Latifi Hoping To Have A Fight With Former Champion Jon Jones
Former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones continues to tease a return to Octagon with a series of social media posts.
Jon Jones last fought at UFC 214 back in July of 2017 and currently awaiting punishment on his USADA doping violation stemming from his last fight against Daniel Cormier. Jones who won initially via KO but later news emerged that Jones tested positive for banned substance turinabol in his pre-fight urine test taken after the weigh-ins. That marked Jones second violation with USADA and facing up to four years of suspension if he found guilty.
However, there is no sign of when USADA will conduct the hearing; thus Jones continues with his training and has been more vocal recently via social media.
“Every part of the journey matters,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “Triumphs and setbacks all combine to make the climb what it is supposed to be. My feet are dug in and I have clear motivation as to what I’m going after and why. I promise you’ve never seen anything like what’s coming.”
Even Chael Sonnen believes that Jones is well aware of his current situation with USADA will soon be in the rear-view and will be eligible to fight again very soon, maybe sometime end of this year.
Even Jon Jones striking coach Brandon Gibson hinting that former champion is developing on punch KO power to his already full arsenal.
Earlier today, Jones claims he has never left the USADA testing pool for UFC athletes, and last week it was reported through U.S. Anti-Doping Agency websites that ‘Bones’ been tested first time in 2018.
USADA rules specify that those who remove themselves from the testing program has to enter the pool again and serve six months before returning to the Octagon. WWE star Brock Lesnar was given a waiver to avoid this period when he made his comeback at UFC 200.
All those talks hint that something is cooking, so divisions another contender Ilir Latifi hoping to be one of the guys to welcome the Jones into the Octagon. Swedish is looking for a fight, and earlier this month Latifi ask two-division champion Daniel Cormier be a man to defend the title or vacate it. Latifi has won five of his past six fights.
“Jon Jones, undisputed champ,” Latifi said in his Tweet. “When you are ready, I’m ready to welcome you back to the Octagon.”
Jones swiftly responded back, assuring him if he keeps picking up wins, one day they will meet in Octagon.
“Just keep winning my friend, that’s usually the best way to get to me,” Jones said in his reply.
Ilir Latifi is coming off a submission win over Ovince Saint Preux earlier this year.