Spinning Back Clique: What is going on with Jon Jones? And UFC 249, what is even happening?

Welcome to “Spinning Back Clique,” MMA Junkie’s weekly show that takes a spin through the biggest topics in mixed martial arts. In this week’s episode, “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” unpack potential fallout from Jon Jones’ latest run-in with the law, what the hell is going on with UFC, and more.

SHOW RUNDOWN:

By now you probably have heard that UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones was arrested last week on charges of aggravated DWI, negligent use of a gun, and more after police responded to hearing a gun shot in downtown Albuquerque only to find an intoxicated Jones in his car with a loaded gun, according to the police report. We’ve been down this road with Jones so many times before. Quite simply, where does the UFC light heavyweight champion go from here?
Suppose Jones gets stripped for the title (it’s happened twice before), or he decides to pull away from the sport so he can get things in order. Then what? You’ve got guys like Dominick Reyes, Jan Blachowicz, and Thiago Santos all staking a claim to the next title shot. What would be the fights to make if Jones parted ways with the title?
UFC president Dana White continues to be determined to make UFC 249 happen April 18, even with no location set as of this post, but the latest major wrench is that lightweight champ Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is supposed to finally fight Tony Ferguson after four failed attempts, could be stuck in Russia because of a coronavirus travel ban, prompting the promotion to possibly move on without him. WHAT!? So now the UFC is scrambling to find options for Tony Ferguson, with Justin Gaethje and maybe even Dustin Poirier among them. You’ve also got welterweight champ Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal beefing and talking about stepping in as a last-minute headliner. All of this is nuts. What is even going on anymore?
With all the talk of MMA promotion’s canceling events left and right amid the global coronavirus pandemic, Submission Underground 12 took place this past Saturday with extreme measures in place. Could MMA take a page out of the grappling promotion to keep events moving along?
Speaking of the COVID-19 pandemic, what is the biggest positive we’ve taken so far from these unprecedented circumstances in our lives?

For answers to all of those questions, watch Episode 22 of “Spinning Back Clique” above.