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UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has suffered a pectoral injury and won’t be defending the gold against former UFC Heavyweight Champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 295.
Jones has since taken to Instagram Video to reveal that he will undergo surgery and physical therapy before returning to the Octagon:
Matthew Wells of MMA Junkie provided the following transcript of what Jones said in the Instagram Video:
“Thank you to everybody who’s checked in with me to see how I was feeling. Obviously, a very sad situation. Very upset. But I’ve been through a lot of things in life, and injuries is a part of being an athlete. I want to thank the UFC for getting me into one of the best doctors in the country, Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Thank you to Dr. Neal ElAttrache and his staff members over here in California for seeing me so quick.
“I wanted to say thank you to Stipe Miocic for all the work that he’s put in. Also, sorry to Stipe and his team. This comes with the territory. Thank you to all my coaches and training partners, everyone who has helped me get this far – can’t even say to the fight. But the goal is to get surgery tomorrow and get back to work as soon as possible. I guess it’ll be Stipe and I at a later date, and that’s my plan.
“So it’ll be surgery and physical therapy for me for the next several months. But I’m committed. I’m committed, and my head is high. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me, and I love you all. And again, sincere apology to the fans. I know some of you guys, it was a huge commitment to get out to Madison Square Garden. Hopefully, these other heavyweights, Aspinall and Sergei put on a great show for you guys. I may even show up to the event to watch. But I love you all, and your boy Jon Jones is doing OK. And I’ll be OK. Take care.”
Miocic has also issued his own statement through a video posted on his OnlyFans (transcript via Jed Meshew of MMA Fighting):
“How did I feel when I woke up today? Like I got kicked in the nuts. In the morning, I woke up to my phone vibrating. It was dark, I had my son on top of me, trying to move and get my phone. I finally got my phone and had a text message from my manager saying my fight was off. I couldn’t sleep the rest of the night. I was supposed to fight Jon Jones in about two weeks in New York, UFC 295, Madison Square Garden. I was pretty excited about that. Actually really excited. I guess he tore something in his chest. Unfortunately that happens. It’s part of the game. Hopefully he gets better and feels better, but what happens now. Do I fight somebody else? I don’t know.
“I don’t know why I didn’t get picked, which is fine. I understand they have a direction they want to go. I’m okay with that. Every guy in the division is tough. I definitely want to fight the biggest fish, which is Jon Jones. It wasn’t my choice, it was theirs. Listen, everything happens for a reason. The fight being canceled, it sucks. No question about it. Unfortunately that’s just the game we’re in. It happens. Like I said, I hope he’s okay. You want to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best. I want that belt back. It’s my belt. It’s going to happen.”
