UFC: Jon Jones says he is relinquishing the light heavyweight title after Dana White comments – ‘Bones out’

‘Bones’ calls for contenders Reyes and Blachowicz to fight for the belt; says he will fight Adesanya in 2021

Jones again asks White to ‘release me from my contract’ after UFC Fight Night comments on the weekend

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UFC light heavyweight Jon Jones looks across the Octagon before his fight against Daniel Cormier in their light heavyweight fight at UFC 214 at the Honda Centre in California in July of 2017. Photo: AFP

Published: 7:24pm, 1 Jun 2020Updated: 10:26am, 3 Jun 2020

UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has doubled down on his threats to quit the promotion after confirming he is relinquishing his title.

Jones – who has for the past week accused UFC president Dana White’s of “lying” over his heavyweight “super fight” payday and asked to be released from his contract – tweeted “Bones out” after White’s UFC Fight Night post-fight “crazy money” comments on Saturday.

“To the light heavyweight title veni, vidi, vici,” the 32-year-old Jones tweeted. “Bones” Jones (26-1, one no contest) was the UFC’s youngest champion and is the greatest of all time, as per White’s words on the weekend. He last fought a successful title defence against Dominick Reyes via unanimous decision in February this year.

“Bones out, when you see me in the streets just call me JJ,” Jones said, before answering “yes” to a fan’s question about relinquishing the light heavyweight title.

Jones appeared to hand-pick two division contenders in Reyes (12-1), who was one of the many rumoured matchups for Jones’ next fight after many believed he beat Jones, and Jan Blachowicz (26-8), who is on a three-fight win-streak. Middleweight champion Israel Adesanya (19-0) is had also previously said he would move up to face Jones after “three more” title defences.

“ESPN Reyes vs Jan for the UFC light heavyweight championship of the world. As of right now, I got nothing to really gain fighting either of them. Let me know if you guys want to set up a day in 2021 for that Izzy fight. Hopefully you guys will be willing to pay by then.”