sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Jon Jones Confirms He's Vacated The UFC Light Heavyweight Title

Jon Jones Confirms He's Vacated The UFC Light Heavyweight Title

Jones hinted at a step up to heavyweight at the weekend and now he's done with the title he remained undefeated for in 15 fights.

Ryan Sidle

Ryan Sidle

Jon Jones has taken a huge step towards UFC's heavyweight division after confirming that he's vacated the light heavyweight title.

On Saturday night Stipe Miocic defended the heavyweight title by beating Daniel Cormier at UFC 252, within minutes Jones had tweeted about a move up in weight, something he's threatened before.

Now it seems that Jones is serious this time as he once again took to social media on Monday night to confirm that he had spoken to the UFC and had vacated his title.

Jones won the 205 lb belt in 2011 at UFC 128 by beating Mauricio Rua before defending the belt seven times, the last of which against Cormier, before being stripped of the belt for a positive drugs test.

He beat Cormier two years later to regain the belt, only for the result to be overturned to a No Contest, because 'Bones' once again failed a drugs test.

When DC moved up to heavyweight it was his rival who won the title again, against Alexander Gustafsson and he's defended it three times since, with the latest defence against Dominick Reyes at UFC 247.

That fight ended in controversy with many believing Reyes had won. Now it seems the 30-year-old, with only one loss on his record, will get the chance to win the vacated title as he's rumoured to be facing Jan Blachowicz in September.

Whilst Jones latest move seems to suggest he'll be moving up in weight, potentially to face Miocic, social media rival Francis Ngannou, or someone else, it isn't quite that simple.

The now former light heavyweight champ has been in a long term standoff with Dana White over a pay increase and that's not going away anytime soon.

As well as Jones' own tweet on the pay situation, TMZ are reporting that White is under the impression that the man considered one of the greatest of all time has actually retired.

It's very much a game of chess between Jones and White and the UFC, but who will make the big move first?

Do you think Jones will step up to heavyweight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Jon Jones, Stipe Miocic, Daniel Cormier, UFC News, MMA News, UFC, Francis Ngannou, MMA, Dana White, UFC 252