New York is close to legalizing mixed martial arts, opening the door for the UFC to stage fight cards at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, or Madison Square Garden , the world's most famous arena, in New York City. UFC president Dana White won't waste time setting up a card in one of these venues once legalization is made official, and he won't wait for ex-light heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones to return from his indefinite suspension either.
"Yeah, fight fan, promoter and everything else, it would definitely suck," White said. "It would suck, but he's in a situation and he's got to handle his business. We will bring a good card there with Jon Jones or without him."
White also cautioned against moving forward like legalization in New York was a done deal. "I guess I gotta say what I've been saying all along: I'm just going to sit back and see what happens," White said.
"I just don't get too optimistic about New York any more ... even though right now looks really optimistic. We'll see what happens."
Jones hails from Rochester, New York, and as the premier fighter in the UFC before his suspension, he would have been a shoo-in to headline the card. Now, if there is a card before Jones has returned to the Octagon, the honor of headlining would likely fall to middleweight champion Chris "All American" Weidman, a Long Island native.
There is still no timetable for a return for Jones according to White. Daniel Cormier, whom Jones beat in January, is the official champion and he's going to make his first defense against Alexander Gustafsson.
"He is just laying low and handling his business, man," White said of Jones. "I don't know when we are going to see him again. I honestly don't know."
[MMA Mania]
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