While currently nursing a torn ligament in his right hand that kept him off of UFC 133, MMAJunkie reveals that Jon Jones will not require surgery.
Jones suffered the injury as a result of wear and tear from his previous collegiate wrestling years, and the injury amounted more pain through each mixed martial arts bout.
According to MMAJunkie, Jones was originally scheduled to go in for surgery yesterday, but after specialist Dr. James Vahey inspected the injury, he determined that the surgery was optional more than anything.
“The actual thumb itself, the actual ligaments that attach to the knuckles, are torn,”Jones’ manager, Malki Kawa said of the injury.
“Initially, Jon didn’t want to have surgery,” Kawa continued.
“But as we kept getting additional opinions from doctors we all trusted, they all recommended having surgery based on the initial report from the UFC’s orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Steven Sanders.”
For the time being, Jones will attempt to avoid the procedure and fight through the injury. Kawa said Jones has been fitted for a hard cast and has been asked not to train until June 11.
The news of the injury couldn’t have come at a better time as both Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard were forced off the UFC 130 card, as well as former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar, who had to pull out of the main event of UFC 131 after contracting diverticulitis again.
Kawa said that Jones does not want to delay anything further and will only go under the knife when it is absolutely necessary.
“When the pain is unbearable and/or he has an issue with the function of his thumb, that’s when Jon will have to have surgery,” he said.
Kawa added that Jones is hoping to return to defend his title as soon as he can, citing Rashad Evans as a possible opponent, should he get past light heavyweight prospect, Phil Davis, at UFC 133.
“We met with Dana White and Lorenzo Fertitta and let them know we would like to set up a fight to get back in the cage as quickly as possible,” Kawa said.
“It could very likely still be Rashad if he gets by Phil Davis, but we could fight sooner, maybe September, October or November depending on what the UFC wants to do.”
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