JON JONES plans to challenge for UFC's heavyweight title in the second quarter of 2022'.
The ex-long-reigning champion light-heavyweight has been watching from the sidelines over the past 19 months, preparing for his eagerly-awaited move up in weight.
Jon Jones, former UFC light-heavyweight champion, has not fought since February 2020
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Jones' absence was partly due to a dispute with UFC brass. This row seems to be over.
He answered a question about his return and said that he expected it to be sometime in the second quarter 2022.
Jones is focused solely on a historic fight with Francis Ngannou, the current heavyweight champion. He will also be taking part in an interim bout against Ciryl Gane.
Future UFC Hall-of-Famer, he said: "Fighting to win the title is what my heart desires most.
"I want fight in the biggest fights. I believe the title fights will be the most important.
"If someone was a heavier star than Francis at heavyweight and didn't hold the title, I would take that person.
BETTING SPECIAL - GET JOSHUA TO WIN IN ROUNDS 1-6 AT 60/1 OR ANYTIME AT 25/1"But Francis is my favorite heavyweight star, him and me.
"And he holds the title, so that is what I want."
Jones, 34, demanded that the UFC pay Jones upwards of PS7.2million ($10m), to fight Ngannou (the promotion's first African-born champion in heavyweight).
The New Yorker demanded that the top brass complie with his demands, and the New Yorker was subsequently made redundant.
Bones claims that UFC chief Dana White has "guaranteed" him a raise in his pay.
He stated: "Dana. He guaranteed me that he'd give me an increase in the next fight.
"I believe it will be pay-per view. It's going to be pay-per-view based so I have to work hard and sell the fight.
"I believe that's something I'm not good at in the future.
"You have to look at [Conor] McGregor who is so great at it and talks so much s**t.
"So skilled at it, and so adept at marketing. My focus has always been on winning.
"And I believe that when I return as a heavyweight, it will be more legal controversial sh*t so I can possibly sell a little bit more pay-per views."
Jones, who is widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial artist ever, has not been in the octagon since last February's unanimous decision win over Dominick Reyes at UFC 247.
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