Jon Jones is officially set to return to the UFC this year. The light heavyweight, who has not fought in more than 14 months, will meet Alexander Gustafsson in the main event of UFC 232 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Dec. 29.
Dual champion Daniel Cormier will be stripped of the light heavyweight championship as he focuses on defending the Heavyweight belt. The belt will go to the winner of Jones and Gustafsson.
Jones last bout was against Cormier on July 29, 2017, at UFC 214. Jones won the bout via knockout in the third round, but the result was overturned and the light heavyweight title returned to Cormier after Jones failed a pre-fight drug test. Jones was able to escape a four-year sentence from USADA and is now primed to fight in the octagon once again.
The announcement gives UFC 232 another huge championship bout, as the card will also feature the women’s superfight between UFC featherweight champion Cris Cyborg and bantamweight champ Amanda Nunes.