Jon Jones is getting ready for his return to the UFC.
The former light-heavyweight champion posted a photo and message on Instagram Thursday hinting at a possible date for his comeback fight.
“Started powerlifting June 1, 2015. In just about [six] months of training four days a week my body has made a complete transformation,” Jones wrote. “Off season 2013 vs off season 2015. Five more months to prepare for this win. I’ll be sure to be at my best April 23rd.”
The date Jones mentioned on Instagram is notable because the UFC announced in a press release in September it had scheduled an event (expected to be UFC 198) at Madison Square Garden in New York on April 23 despite the sport of MMA still not being legal in the state.
“We believe fight fans have waited long enough to experience live UFC events in the state of New York and we are thrilled to announce our first event at Madison Square Garden,” UFC senior executive VP and COO Lawrence Epstein stated in a press release at the time. “Professional MMA is legal around of the world and it is about time New York followed suit.”
It’s believed Jones’ first fight back will be against current champion Daniel Cormier, whom Jones defeated by unanimous decision at UFC 182 this past January, though the UFC hasn’t made any official announcement.
Jones (21-1) was officially reinstated by the UFC last month after reaching a plea agreement in a hit-and-run case in Albuquerque. Jones’ arrest resulted in the UFC stripping him of the title back in April and suspending him indefinitely.
Cormier (17-1) won the vacant title by submitting Anthony Johnson at UFC 187 in May and then defended the belt in a five-round classic against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 192 in October. Cormier told MMAJunkie Radio earlier this month that he was not interested in fighting Jones’ home state of New York.
To go along with the message — which Jones later deleted, as he often does — Jones posted this split photo of his physique today compared to what he looked like two years ago. Keep in mind two years ago Jones was in the midst of his title reign and considered by many to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time.
