UFC punishment of Jon Jones

Jonathan Dwight "Jon" Jones (born July 19, 1987) is an American mixed martial artist and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. He is widely regarded as the best active mixed martial arts fighter in the world and as one of the greatest fighters of all time. When he won the title in March 2011, he became the youngest champion in UFC history. As of December 2012, he was ranked as the #1 light heavyweight fighter in the world by various media outlets. He was also ranked the #1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world by multiple publications.] His 84.5" reach is also tied with heavyweight Stefan Struve for the longest in the UFC.

"I'm a little bit confused by it. You have to do something, you have to take some kind of action, I support that. But I don't fully know what it means to strip a guy of his belt. What do you do with the guy when he comes back? You put the guy who's clearly the best fighter in the world ... you don't put him in a title fight? So what is the fight, is it a contender's fight? If he wins that, does he then get a fight for the championship? Or do you bring him right into a championship fight but when he walks to the ring he isn't the champion ... I just don't get it, I don't fully understand it. I think if you're going to part ways with a guy you cut him completely and bring him back when you're ready. I'm not second-guessing the move, I've just never heard of it, it's never been done before."

If there is one mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who knows a thing or two about former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones -- both inside the cage as well as out -- it's former middleweight attraction Chael Sonnen, who spent a season of reality show television coaching against "Bones" before breaking the ex-champ's toe (kinda, sorta) at UFC 159. Sonnen was a guest on "Off the Record" to discuss the penalties handed down to the embattled phenom (because of this), including his suspension and loss of the 205-pound strap. Perhaps the "American Gangster" doesn't understand why the promotion is trying to have it both ways; meaning, disciplining a fighter for violating the organization's code of conduct while leaving him a chair at the pay-per-view (PPV) dinner table. The answer may come as early as next month when the courts decide what to do with Jones, as well as how long they plan to do it.