Michael Bisping wonders how Jon Jones’ demons will affect him in UFC 232 comeback

Former UFC light heavyweight champ Jon Jones’ comeback is now official. After a lengthy sit on the sidelines due to a failed drug test, the former champion will battle Alexander Gustafsson for the vacant light heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 232 on December 29.

While many members of the MMA community are confident the pound-for-pound great Jon Jones will return to action in vintage form, former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping isn’t sure. He believes Jon Jones’ demons could be a factor in the fight — although he understands that some fighters need their demons to perform.

“It’s gonna be interesting to see what Jones comes back,” Michael Bisping said recently on his Believe You Me podcast (transcript via MMA News). “A lot of guys, they need those demons. They need the fire, they need something that makes them an outlier that separates them from the pack. A lot of people, myself included, had that. You need that wild side and if you’re just a regular Joe you’re not gonna … I’m not saying you have to be a bit reckless or have a little bit of semi-screw loose here and there, but it f*cking helps when you step into an Octagon and fight somebody. His thing is, he’s a wild man.”

Jon Jones has not fought since July of 2017 when he knocked out Daniel Cormier in a light heavyweight title fight. When he failed a drug test, however, this win was overturned and the title was returned to Cormier, who has held it ever since. Cormier will be stripped of the light heavyweight title when Jones and Gustafsson fight at UFC 232.

How do you think Jon Jones will look in his return to action?

This article first appeared on BJPENN.COM on 10/19/2018.