Jon Jones Sentenced, Former UFC Champion Retiring, Countdown To UFC 192 Video
- UFC has released a series of countdown videos to promote this weekend's big UFC 192 show. In the one above, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Daniel Cormier is shown preparing for challenger Alexander Gustafsson. The card has flown under the radar, but will be a huge one, with several fighters possible earning title fights with wins. There will also be twelve ranked fighters on the card.
Wrestling Inc will have full, live, round-by-round coverage of UFC 192 this Saturday night.
- Speaking of the light heavyweight title, former champion Jon Jones was sentenced in his hit-and-run from earlier this year. Jones pleaded guilty to a felony charge of leaving the scnee of an accident.
Jones was given 18 months of supervised probation and is now required to make 72 charity and speaking appearances. It's likely he won't be convicted of the felony charge if he completes the obligations of his probation.
Jon Jones issued the following statement:
"With regards to today's decision made by the court, I am very happy to now be able to put this incident behind me. My actions have caused pain and inconvenience in the lives of others and for that I am truly sorry and I accept full responsibility. I have been working hard during this time away from my sport to grow and mature as a man and to ensure that nothing like this happens again. I have learned a great deal from this situation and I am determined to emerge a better person because of it. I apologize to those who were affected by my actions in this incident and I am hopeful that I will be given the opportunity to redeem myself in the eyes of the public, my family and friends as well as my supporters. I am not sure what the future holds for me but I plan to continue to do the work needed to be productive and successful in every aspect of my life."
See Also: Police Release Jon Jones Crash Site Video
The UFC issued the following statement regarding Jones:
"The UFC organization is aware that Jon Jones reached a plea agreement with authorities in Albuquerque, New Mexico this morning stemming from charges associated with a motor vehicle accident earlier this year. As a result, UFC, through Las Vegas-based law firm Campbell & Williams, will thoroughly review the agreement before discussing Jones' possible reinstatement to return to competition.
"More information will be made available following completion of this review."
- Former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin announced his retirement after not fighting for three years. Franklin had one fight remaining on his UFC contract, but posted on Player's Tribune, explaining his decision and a conversation with his mother.
"I was joking with my mom a few weeks ago pretending that I was negotiating a final fight. I found out the next day she had not slept a wink that night.
"We've had our battles and done our duty," she said.
I thought it was interesting how she used words like "our". I have learned that my friends, family, coaches, training partners and even my fans shared the joy of my victories. It was as if they stepped into the cage with me for every fight. However, they also suffered the disappointment of my losses.
My mother was right, though, and it reminded me of Paul's words in 2nd Timothy 4:7: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith ?" This comes at a time when I have to accept that I am no longer 25. The body has slowed down, and while ever so slightly, those fractions of a difference determine victory or defeat at the top level."