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Jon Jones' manager says UFC star may not fight in Octagon again

The future of former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been up in the air ever since he was stripped of his title by the UFC after an alleged felony hit-and-run at the end of April.

Jones, who is essentially undefeated (sans a technicality early in his career) is widely regarded as the greatest MMA fighter to ever live. He became the company's youngest champion ever when, at 23, "Bones" decimated MMA legend Mauricio "Shogun" Rua at UFC 128 in 2011 to earn the title he was later forced to relinquish.

As Jones battles this next challenge in his brief career, questions are abound as to what his role in MMA will be going forward. Given his lengthy history of poor choices, the thought of Jones never fighting again is gaining momentum by the week.

Malki Kawa, Jones' long-time manager and confidant, went on Ariel Helwani's "The MMA Hour" on Monday to discuss his client's future. And in what some might call a shocking revelation, Kawa said Jones may never fight inside an Octagon again.

"It could very well be the last time we've seen Jon Jones in the Octagon," Kawa said. "I think Jon Jones is gonna focus on Jon Jones. I think he's gonna take the time to do whatever he's gotta do. And if it's the last time we've seen him fight, it's the last time we've seen him fight. And I'm OK with that.

(Getty)
(Getty)

"If he ever doesn't come back to the sport, it's because he doesn't want to come back to the sport. If it was because of too much pressure? Could be. If it's because of the belt? Could be. If it's because the competition is too much, it could be.

"Whatever he decides is the reason why he won't come back to the sport, but it'll be solely on him. I'm not gonna blame anything or anyone for anything Jon Jones does. And no one, at the same token, can take credit for anything Jon Jones does. Everything that's Jon Jones' is Jon Jones'. The good, the bad and the ugly."

Jones is one of the greatest talents to ever grace the sport of MMA – hence the frustration from fans and pundits alike that Jones has continually dropped the ball throughout his career (a 2011 DUI, a 2014 positive drug test for cocaine, and most recently the alleged hit and run). However, according to Kawa, none of Jones' outside-the-cage antics will affect his view on where his client ranks in the pantheon of MMA immortality.

"He'll still go down as the greatest of all time and no one is gonna convince me otherwise," Kawa said. "No other fighter has done what he's been able to do and I don't think anyone has been able to impact the sport the way he has.

"The reality is you can try to bring him down any way you want. You can say the things he's done, things he didn't do – whatever. But I really do believe at the end of the day, he's the greatest of all time inside the Octagon. No one can take that away from him."