LAS VEGAS — Jon Jones returned to the Octagon for the first time in 15 months, and though he won his bout with Ovince Saint Preux via unanimous decision Saturday in the main event of UFC 197 at the MGM Grand Garden going away, it was hardly vintage Jones.
Only seconds after UFC president Dana White wrapped the title belt around his waist, signifying him as the interim light heavyweight champion, Jones took it off.
“I don’t think I want that belt,” Jones said. “It’s not the real belt. I want my actual belt back.”
Jones was stripped of the title almost a year ago to the night after he was involved in a hit-and-run auto accident in his hometown of Albuquerque, N.M. His bitter rival, Daniel Cormier, whom he had beaten at UFC 182 in his last appearance in the cage, won the vacant belt by submitting Anthony “Rumble” Johnson.
Jones and Cormier were supposed to rematch on Saturday and, as it turned out, it was probably a pretty good thing that Cormier injured his left leg and had to pull out of the fight.
Jones wasn’t the explosive fighter he often is and said he had trouble getting off.
“It definitely took me a while to pull the trigger tonight,” Jones said. “Really, I was just watching. Anticipating, imagining techniques, landing and then not even going for it. I was watching tonight instead of reacting.”
Jones said he felt good physically and said, “I feel I have two more rounds in me right now.” He came close to finishing Saint Preux late in the fourth round, when he dropped him near the cage and dropped a few elbows on him. Jones had good position several times, but wasn’t able to take advantage.
Jones said the layoff didn’t impact him, but he admitted that his timing was off.
“I don’t think that played a factor in my performance at all,” Jones said of his long layoff. “I can be a lot better. I had a lot of questions coming in here. I needed that fight before I fight for the title. … I’m really excited to fight Dan Cormier.”
They’re expected to fight in the main event of UFC 200, though Cormier has a doctor’s appointment on Monday to get his leg examined. Assuming that comes out well, the fight almost certainly will be announced as the headliner for the summer’s blockbuster card. Though he easily defeated Cormier last year, he’ll need to be much better than he was Saturday to do it again. But Jones said he didn’t want to be too negative.
“I’ve got to kill this Debbie Downer attitude,” Jones said, grinning. “I just won a fight in the UFC.”
To win the next one, he’ll need to step his game up, and a lot. It would be no shock, though, were he able to do that.
