UFC heavyweight Jon Jones has confirmed that he has undergone surgery to correct to elbow ailment but says that it won’t prolong his absence from the sport.

Jones was scheduled to defend his championship against Stipe Miocic in New York in December before he was forced to withdraw after sustaining an injury to his pectoral muscle in preparation. And with a nagging bone spurs issue in his elbow also requiring attention, Jones has said he decided to pack two surgeries in during his absence from the sport.

“Back out here in California with Dr. ElAttrache, this time instead of doing a pec repair, we are working on my left elbow,” Jones said on social media, as noted by MMA Fighting.

“I’m actually about one hour off the table. We had a two-hour surgery shaving down some bone spurs. The good news is it’s about a 10-week healing process, and I’m out for months anyway, because of this pec surgery, so I thought I’d just kill two birds and get this elbow taken care of once and for all.

He added: “I appreciate all the support. Your boy’s back in the sling, back on this recovery journey. Still on this recovery journey. Sometimes you have to take a small step back in order to move forward, and I’m patient. I appreciate you guys support, your love and your positive energy, and I will be back. Love you all.”

Once fit, Jones is widely expected to fight Stipe Miocic — the former heavyweight champion who hasn’t competed since a March 2021 defeat to Francis Ngannou — despite protestations from the interim UFC heavyweight champ, Tom Aspinall.