Jon Jones Is Back in the UFC

Oh shit, he's back already. The unofficial best fighter in the world, Jon Jones, has been reinstated after being tossed out of the UFC for a felony hit-and-run in April of this year.

Jones entered an intersection in Albuquerque, where he lives and trains full time, and struck a vehicle driven by pregnant woman. He later turned himself in… after fleeing on foot, and after the police found drugs in his rental car.

The UFC promptly stripped him of his heavyweight title, and virtually all of Jones' major sponsors left him. The MMA world waited for the final judgment of the court, and Jon kept to himself, staying away from media while quietly starting to train again.

At the end of September, Jon sat before a judge and was granted a conditional discharge—which meant no jail time, a fine, 18 months of supervised probation, and charity appearances. Jon released a statement about the ordeal, and has since been active on social media—posting videos of himself lifting weights, as well as mentioning that he missed the sport.

Today, the UFC announced what everyone was expecting—that Jon Jones has been let back into the major league, and is allowed to fight again immediately.

Read the statement below, and try not to hate too hard on a 28-year-old's second chance at life.

Following a review of the plea agreement reached by Jon Jones and officials in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and the judge's decision, UFC announced today the formal reinstatement of Jones to the UFC roster. Effective immediately, Jones is eligible to return to competition. As such, UFC expects Jones to meet all of the terms of his plea agreement, including mandatory community service, as a condition of his reinstatement.

UFC is currently discussing with Jones a potential date for his return to the Octagon.

"We've made it clear to Jon that this new opportunity to compete in UFC is a privilege and not a right, and that there are significant expectations we have regarding his conduct moving forward," said UFC Chairman and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta. "We're happy to read and see reports that he has embraced the terms of his plea agreement and is using this experience to grow and develop as a person."

"I am thankful to be able to do what I love once again and I look forward to proving myself as a champion in and outside of the Octagon," Jones said.