Jon Jones' return to competitive mixed martial arts led him to a win over Daniel Cormier and an undisputed championship at 205 pounds in UFC 214 -- but Jones was fighting with one arm compromised, according to his coach.
Coach Mike Winkeljohn told Submission Radio that Jones hurt his arm two days before UFC 214 but had no intention whatsoever of bowing out of the event.
"A couple of nights before the fight, he couldn't lift his arm. He had hurt it wrestling," Winkeljohn said on Submission Radio. "He wrestled a little too hard with his partner, and maybe from a lack of warm-up, I'm not sure, but it was kind of scary."
Winkeljohn said that before the fight, Jones had trouble lifting his arm over his head, and the coach was concerned about Jones' ability to underhook, which caused him to change his fight plan.
"He just couldn't lift it basically over his head and stuff. Of course, it's definitely concerning," Winkeljohn said. "You know, in my mind, I'm thinking, 'Are you going to be able to underhook with that arm? Or if not, you have to use a lot more frames and more downward pressure and circle the opposite direction, so game plan might have to be changed a little bit if it doesn't get healed."
Jones (23-1) ended up knocking out Cormier at 3:01 of the third round. The victory ended Jones' long rivalry with Cormier (19-2), who held the title for two years during his absence from the sport.