UFC respond to “100% inaccurate” statement from former champion Jon Jones

UFC have issued a statement correcting a false claim Jon Jones made about his belt being revoked.

The former light heavyweight champion was stripped of his title and banned indefinitely from competing following his involvement in a hit-and-run in which a pregnant woman broke her arm. During a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Jones claimed that the UFC probably wouldn't have taken away his belt had been willing to let the show go on and face Anthony Johnson.

"I really have a feeling that if I was ready to fight, they would have let me fight. Especially because there was no court date. I wasn't proven guilty of anything at the time. I feel as if they would have let me fight. For sure."

"I told them do whatever you guys have to do."

Jones explained that he wasn't interested in fighting at UFC 187 because everything was still up in the air regarding his court case over the hit-and-run, and that he needed a break to deal with it.

However, the UFC released a statement to MMA Fighting  claiming that they had made the decision to strip Jones' title before the fighter met with them. They claim there was never a point where letting him keep his belt was an option.

"A UFC official told MMA Fighting that Jones' claim is "100 percent inaccurate" and the decision to strip him of the title was made before a meeting between Jones and the organization ever took place."

"The official said that execs flew to Albuquerque to offer their support, as well as inform him of their decision to strip him of the belt face to face.

"The UFC official added that the organization stayed in close communication with Jones, his manager and his publicist throughout the legal process. Execs also flew down to Albuquerque the day of Jones' plea hearing and attended the court proceedings."