Jon Jones makes a welcome return to the octagon this weekend when he faces Ciryl Gane for the vacant UFC heavyweight title.
The bout will be Jones’ first MMA contest in three years and ahead of the event, the versatile star paid tribute to another fighter hampered by inactivity, his UFC colleague, Conor McGregor.
The Irish superstar also makes a return to the sport later this year with a fight against Michael Chandler seemingly set for some point in the second half of 2023.
Despite looking forward to Saturday’s huge opportunity, Jones also can’t wait to see McGregor back in the spotlight later this year.
“I love Conor,” said Jones when speaking to the world’s media ahead of his enormous fight with Gane this Saturday.
“I love what he represents. He’s big. He has a gigantic brand and in some senses it’s just as big as our sport. It’s gonna be great when he comes back.”
Fans in Germany, Austria and Italy can watch UFC events live on DAZN, and DAZN subscribers in most parts of the world can also enjoy a multitude of Professional Fighters League (PFL) events live, including the launch of the PFL Europe series beginning March 25 in Newcastle.