• UFC 152

Jon Jones expecting injury layoff

Jon Jones fended off a tight armbar attempt © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Machida keen on GSP possibility
  
• News: Jon Jones wants Henderson next
  
• News: Bisping the technician beats Stann
  
• News: Flyweight joy for Mighty Mouse
  
• News: Jones survives huge Belfort scare
  
• Profile: Jon Jones

Jon Jones admits he could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after predicting he suffered nerve damage in his right arm during Saturday's victory over Vitor Belfort - a performance Dana White labelled the best of Jones' career.

Jones submitted Belfort by Americana in the UFC 152 main event, but left the Octagon clutching his arm after having it popped by a first-round armbar attempt. The exact damage is not yet known, but Jones expects to discover a serious problem.

"We haven't got it scanned yet but it could be nerve damage," Jones said in the post-fight press conference.

Belfort revealed he instinctively eased up on the armbar when he felt Jones' arm pop, allowing the champion space to escape the submission. Upon hearing that, Jones had nothing but praise for Belfort.

"That shows what an awesome person Vitor is. He's a warrior, but if something inside him was telling him to release the arm, that just shows what kind of guy he is."

President White claimed Jones' performance was his best under the UFC banner, saying: "There's no doubt this was his best performance. He got injured in the first round, there were questions over him, could he take a punch? He took a load tonight.

"There can be no more nay saying over Jon Jones. Love him or hate him, there's no denying he's one of the best in the world. Every time he comes to fight.

"Jones got caught in that armbar, his arm got popped, yet he got out of it and fought for four rounds like it wasn't popped. He made an injured elbow look like it wasn't injured. In my eyes, Jones looked unbeatable."

Asked what might be next for Jones, with Dan Henderson - previously linked to a fight with Lyoto Machida - still in the mix, White responded: "He's still got the Dan Henderson fight, but he is close [to clearing out the division]. We'll see what happens with Jones' elbow, and with Henderson."

Jones, meanwhile, delivered an honest assessment of his own performance, saying: "I think it was a good performance but I definitely have a lot of room for improvement. I definitely need to embrace jiu-jitsu more.

"My top game was poor. My ground-and-pound was good, my striking was fair."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.