UFC
Champ Jon Jones says his "arm is pretty messed up" after UFC 152, hasn't gotten x-ray yet
Sep 23, 2012 - 11:45:51 PM Champ Jon Jones says his "arm is pretty messed up" after UFC 152, hasn't gotten x-ray yet

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones doesn't yet know the extent of an arm injury suffered against Vitor Belfort on Saturday night at UFC 152. Jones got caught in a nasty armbar in the first round, commenting afterward that he heard the arm pop as it was hyper-extended, but he didn't tap, and would ultimately go on to submit Belfort in the fourth round to defend his title.

At the post-fight press conference, Jones said the initial examination led to concerns over nerve damage in his bicep, but he was going to go to the hospital to get it checked out. Instead, Jones opted not to spend the night in the hospital after the victory.

"I haven't got it X-rayed yet," Jones said in an interview with SI.com. "I just didn't want to go to the hospital last night. I was pretty excited about the win, and I just didn't want to spend the night in a hospital."

Jones hasn't decided when or where he's going to get the arm checked out, but it could happen today or tomorrow as he heads to Baltimore to watch his brothers Arthur and Chandler square off this evening as the Baltimore Ravens host the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.

"I'm going to Baltimore to watch football, and maybe I'll get the arm checked out while I'm there," Jones said. “Or I might wait until I get home. I'm just trying to keep pressure off of it and deal with the pain until I can get to a doctor and see what's going on with it. The pain is definitely bearable, though, so I'm not in any rush."

In any case, Jones gave a slight update on his condition following Saturday's event, and how the arm is a feeling a day after the fight.

"I had to take [the sling] off so I could switch shirts,” Jones said. "But the arm is pretty messed up. My hand is still swollen, and the whole arm is jacked up."

Penick's Analysis: Looks like we won't get an official update on the arm until later in the week, but it's definitely not feeling good hours after the event. That armbar was definitely very close to breaking his arm, and he's lucky that didn't happen, but some nerve or ligament damage is a very realistic possibility. Hopefully whatever it is won't keep him out too long, and hopefully he's able to get back into action no later than Super Bowl weekend, as his next bout would be perfect for the UFC's annual early February event.

[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]