Jon Jones says foot not fractured after UFC 165 win, champ awaits next foe

Jon Jones will be walking forward soon enough, thanks to some good news from the doctor.

The UFC light heavyweight champion today tweeted that an MRI found no significant injuries to his left foot. which was injured during his title defense this past Saturday against the tough Alexander Gustafsson.

“Just got back from a MRI,” Jones wrote. “Great news! my foot is not broken or fractured.. Focusing on a full recovery.”

After five back-and-forth rounds at UFC 165, Jones emerged with a unanimous decision and set the promotion’s record for consecutive title defenses at 205 pounds. The event took place at Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

The fight earned rave reviews from the MMA world and will be a frontrunner for “Fight of the Year.”

Jones and Gustafsson’s output was so high during the 25-minute affair that both were immediately transported to an area hospital. Reports indicated that Jones might have sustained a serious foot injury after his striking coach, Mike Winkeljohn, wrote on social media that the fighter had “shattered” it.

Winkeljohn on Monday told MMAjunkie.com that UFC President Dana White sought a second opinion to determine the extent of the damage. Jones injured the same foot five months’ prior when he nearly severed his big toe in a fight with Chael Sonnen at UFC 159.

The question now is when Jones (19-1 MMA, 13-1 UFC) will be able to return to training, though after UFC 165, White said it probably would be a while before the fighter wanted to discuss the issue.

When he does return, he faces either a rematch with Gustafsson (15-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) or a meeting with No. 1 contender Glover Teixeira (22-2 MMA, 5-0 UFC). On Tuesday, at a pre-event press conference for UFC 168, White said he will meet with UFC executive Lorenzo Fertitta to decide which direction the promotion wants to go.

For complete coverage of UFC 165, stay tuned to the UFC Events section of the site.

(Pictured: Jon Jones)