Jon Jones Announces Match vs. Jake Hager at Fury Pro Grappling Event on Dec. 9

It appears that Jon Jones’ return to combat sports won’t be in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion on Saturday announced via Twitter that he will compete against Bellator heavyweight Jake Hager in a grappling match at a Fury Pro Grappling event in New Jersey on Dec. 9. Multiple outlets have since confirmed that the match is in the works. Fury Pro Grappling is run by MMA organization Cage Fury Fighting Championships and streams on UFC Fight Pass.

“Breaking News!! I’m excited to announce I’ll be competing for the number one grappling organization in the world, Fury Grappling!” Jones wrote on Twitter. “December 9th I’ll be in New Jersey competing against WWE superstar and undefeated Bellator heavyweight Jack Swagger.”

Breaking News!! I’m excited to announce I’ll be competing for the number one grappling organization in the world, Fury Grappling! December 9th I’ll be in New Jersey competing against WWE superstar and undefeated Bellator heavyweight Jack swagger

— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 20, 2021

Jones has been training for a move to heavyweight in the UFC but hasn’t competed in the Octagon since defending his light heavyweight crown against Dominick Reyes in February 2020. “Bones”, a junior college national champion wrestler at Iowa Central Community College, has since vacated the 205-pound belt. Jones recently made headlines when he was arrested while in Las Vegas for a UFC Hall of Fame induction ceremony this past September for battery domestic violence and vehicle tampering.

Hager, 39, has compiled a 3-0 record with one on contest while competing under the Bellator MMA banner. Known as “Jack Swagger” as a professional wrestler with AEW, Hager was an All-American wrestler at the University of Oklahoma. Hager responded to Jones’ announcement by revealing that both sides haven’t agreed to terms for the match.

“We can talk if terms are right,” Hager wrote on Twitter.