Breaking: Jon Jones not fighting at UFC 282, Darren Till to open the main card
Former longtime UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is officially out of the UFC 282 pay-per-view card.
For several weeks now, it's been rumored that Jones could make his long-awaited comeback in the UFC's year-end event. However, the promotion announced the complete line-up for the December card on Saturday, and Jones is noticeably missing.
Check out the tweet below:
Loading up for December 📶
ALL official for #UFC282!
[ #UFC282 | Dec 10 | @TMobileArena | Tickets on sale October 28th 🎟 | UFC.ac/3gyiWag ] https://t.co/yTDGpWP4wk
Instead, UFC 282 will be headlined by a rematch between reigning light heavyweight Jiri Prochazka and Glover Teixeira. Welterweight veterans Robbie Lawler and Santiago Ponzinibbio are slated to square off in the co-main event spot.
Two of the UK's biggest stars, Paddy Pimblett and Darren Till, are also set to make appearances at UFC 282. Pimblett will take on Jared Gordon, while Till will kick off the main card against South African sensation Dricus Du Plessis.
Jon Jones reportedly tried to get on the UFC 282 card
On a recent episode of The MMA Hour, veteran journalist Ariel Helwani reported that Jon Jones has been actively training for a potential return in 2022. Helwani added that the UFC was hopeful of getting 'Bones' slated for the December card.
According to Helwani, UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was the matchmakers' top choice as Jones' opponent. However, it is highly unlikely that Ngannou will be ready for the year-end event. Dealing with an injury on top of his contract dispute with the UFC, the earliest Ngannou is expected to return is sometime in 2023.
"The fight that they want is him vs. Francis Ngannou," Helwani said. "I don't think Francis is going to be available by December 10th. I don't think they'll get a deal done with him, I don't think he'll be 100% healthy after the knee surgery by December 10th. [But] I do feel more and more confident that they are going to get a deal done with him..."
Watch Ariel Helwani's report on Jon Jones' potential return:
At one point, former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic's name was thrown around as another possible opponent for Jones. In 2021, Jones expressed interest in challenging either Miocic or Ngannou for the UFC heavyweight title. However, a financial dispute between Jones and the promotion has kept him out of commission for two years.
Jones is now 35 and hasn't fought since defeating Dominick Reyes via unanimous decision at UFC 247 back in February 2020.