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Jon Jones ready to step in for UFC 200 in Conor McGregor’s absence

If the Ultimate Fighting Championship needs a new headliner for the historic UFC 200 event now that Conor McGregor has been scratched, Jon Jones may be willing to fill the bill.

Jones has business to take care of before any decisions are made in that regard, however.

The former light heavyweight champion returns to the cage for the first time since January 2015 when he fights Ovince Saint Preux in the main event of UFC 197 on Saturday for the interim light heavyweight title at the MGM Grand.

A victory in his return fight would potentially set up a rematch with champion Daniel Cormier, provided Cormier is healed from the leg injury that forced him to pull out of Saturday’s bout.

If everything falls into place, Jones said Wednesday he is ready to go.

“Absolutely, I would totally step in to UFC 200 and fill in that main event or co-main event slot,” he said, before following up with an acknowledgement he would more than likely be the headliner.

Jones said he agreed to stay on the card and face St. Preux after Cormier pulled out in part to atone for not facing a replacement opponent and in effect causing the cancellation of UFC 151 in 2012.

He could theoretically get another chance to play hero for the company at UFC 200 after McGregor was pulled from the event by UFC executives for failing to travel to Las Vegas this week to fulfill media obligations for the card.

UFC 200 is scheduled for T-Mobile Arena on July 9. McGregor was slated for a welterweight rematch with Nate Diaz in the main event.

Jones, who was stripped of his title last year and suspended indefinitely following a hit-and-run charge in Albuquerque, New Mexico, also supported McGregor, who announced his retirement on Twitter in the midst of the Tuesday’s drama.

Jones doesn’t believe McGregor would want to walk away from the sport after suffering his first UFC loss to Diaz in March.

“I don’t think he’s retired,” Jones said. “I don’t think he’s going to retire. Just a few days ago, he said on Instagram he’s hungry like day one. Conor is a fighter and he is a winner. I don’t think he would want to go out on a loss. I think if he doesn’t fight again, his legacy is really that Diaz fight.

“Hats off to him for standing up for what he believes is right. At the end of the day, business is business. The guy obviously has respect for himself and his talents. Fights like this will help fighters in the future. I respect his willingness to fight for what’s right.”

Jones indicated it would be special to compete on the UFC 200 card after also being on the UFC 100 card in 2009. Lightweight Jim Miller, who fought at UFC 100, is currently booked for a bout against Takanori Gomi at UFC 200.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509. Follow him on Twitter: @adamhilllvrj

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