"Daddy" might be coming home.

Jon Jones had big plans for 2016. He was going to return to the UFC after an almost year long exile, fight Daniel Cormier, and reclaim his UFC light heavyweight championship. Unfortunately for him, things didn't work out like that. First, Cormier withdrew from their scheduled fight at UFC 197 and he was forced to face Ovince Saint Preux in an interim title fight, which he won by unanimous decision. Then, just a few days before his rematch with Cormier at UFC 200, Jones was flagged by USADA for a potential anti-doping violation and removed from the card. Since then Jones has maintained his innocence while looking into possible explanations for the two banned substances found in his system.

Well, good news could be right around the corner for Jon Jones. Speaking with Luke Thomas recently on his SiriusXM Radio program The Luke Thomas Show, Jones' attorney Howard Jacobs said that the Jones' camp discovered a product Jones took in the lead up to UFC 200 which was contaminated with the banned substances found in his system and that USADA had independently test the product and confirmed as much.

"We've been able to establish the source of the prohibited substances. It came from a product that Jon took that was not labelled with either of these substances. We had it tested, the product was contaminated with both of them. I know USADA also independently had the product tested; their testing confirms what we found. We then sent essentially the same pills that we had had tested to be tested by USADA's lab, which also found the same thing. So pretty much every time it's been tested, it's shown that the product is contaminated with both clomiphene and Letrozole, the two substances (Jones tested positive for)."

Jones' arbitration hearing is scheduled for October 31 where he is looking at a maximum one year suspension or as little as being let off with a warning. Earlier this year Jones posted on his Instagram account that he was "expecting to be back in the octagon really soon" and his attorney believes that the discovery of the tainted supplement will facilitate that.

"It should definitely lead to a significant reduction, that's our position. The way the anti-doping rules, at least with the UFC program, are written, they mirror the World Anti-Doping Code to some extent. There are some differences but essentially in a case like this you can't argue that you have no fault if you take a supplement or product that's contaminated but you can argue that you're not significantly at fault, which gives you the ability to argue for a reduced sanction. So the sanction range under the UFC rules would be between a warning at a minimum and of course the maximum is at a year."

Jones would not be the first fighter to be saved from a long suspension by the presence of a tainted supplement. Yoel Romero, an occasional training partner of Jones, had a similar case to Jones, appealed, and ultimately accepted a six-month suspension.

"So Romero's case similarly was a contaminated product case and the one difference between his case and Jon's case is because of the substance involved in Yoel's case, the maximum sanction was two years as opposed to the one year here. So the possible sanction range was between the same minimum of a warning but the maximum in his case was two years. USADA looked at it and we were able to come to an agreement that six months was the appropriate sanction in that case."

Romero also settled his case before proceeding to arbitration. Considering these factors it would not be at all unlikely for Jones to walk away from his USADA arbitration fully eligible to fight. He does still have an Nevada State Athletic Commission disciplinary hearing set for Nov. 10 so he's not free and clear yet, but Jon Jones could be back by early next year, just in time to fight the winner of the Daniel Cormier vs. Anthony Johnson rematch at UFC 206.

Maybe 2017 will be the year Jones had hoped 2016 would be.

MUST-READ STORIES

Ding dong. Pat Lundvall's NAC career is coming to an end.

"Open to" isn't the same as "looking for." Miesha Tate is open to a fight with Cris Cyborg.

Clear. Michael Bisping calls UFC 204 win "a clear victory."

Champion. Jason Parillo says Cyborg's willingness to cut to 140 "shows what kind of champion she is."

Place your bets. Judo gold medalist Kayla Harrison is training in BJJ and boxing but unsure if she will make the transition to MMA.

EXTRA CREDIT

Oversaturation. Jordan Breen discusses the mass UFC firings and how that will improve the UFC fan experience.

MEDIA STEW

Giving Tito Ortiz a live mic is my single most favorite thing in MMA.

And highlights from Friday.

And Bellator is giving Phil Davis the full push. Probably because he beats everyone on the roster (aside from King Mo that one time when he didn't but somehow did).

Re-watch and score.

Champ Camp is back.

"Trust me, my life doesn't suck."

LISTEN UP

Fights Gone By

Parting Shot

TWEETS

Most America thing that's ever happened.

This is a brutally unfair war of words.

Hope you all can tune in tonight on @Spike #Bellator162 so you see the difference between 1st class and no class.#JuiceBox @BellatorMMA — Tito Ortiz (@titoortiz) October 21, 2016

Tune in tonight to see "Punch Fast/Talk Last" make a fool out of Dumb Ass/Bus Pass https://t.co/YrCNMs3RrQ — Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) October 22, 2016

Chael had dozens of these. This one was the best I think.



Charming

Tax Felon



Easter Island

Melon — Chael Sonnen (@ChaelSonnen) October 23, 2016

bless this man with a dog-child's brainhttps://t.co/3A4ot2QO7a — Jessica Hudnall (@LegKickTKO) October 22, 2016

So Jose met with DW and a few days later he is reconsidering retirement? Sounds like the money truck got backed up for him.

Repensando na aposentadoria do MMA, conversei com minha família e vendo os pedidos dos meus Fans coisas boas virao para vocês. Thanks Russia — Jose Aldo Junior (@josealdojunior) October 22, 2016

Eh...give my Lineker vs. Dillashaw for a title shot.

I am so frustrated.@johnlineker I know U'll sign the contract so lets do this thing!I have my pen ready 2 go.UR a legend so lets sign! #Sign — Bryan Caraway (@BryanCaraway) October 21, 2016

More than many make in a year.

@SBNLukeThomas $55,000 for 3 arbitrators+the $2700 filing fee+whatever he had to pay the lawyers = more than most fighters make in a fight — Leslie Smith (@LeslieSmith_GF) October 21, 2016

Of course. New owners always cut costs. Not like they were gonna come in and willingly pay fighters their fair share.

For the fighters thinking new owners meant change, the only change is MORE for the owners. And LESS for the fighters. @MMAFA https://t.co/onXJPSJMQZ — Nathan Quarry (@NateRockQuarry) October 22, 2016

Sholler getting out while the getting is good.

When my UFC chapter closes next month, I'm pumped to work alongside this guy! https://t.co/dHDNvjpSFS — Dave Sholler (@DaveSholler) October 22, 2016

This is pretty cool.

This must have taken a while.



Every head kick finish in UFC history: https://t.co/sklaDM5sql — caposa (@GrabakaHitman) October 22, 2016

Openweight tourney still has openings.

Hey @rizin_PR you are going to need bigger gloves, these do not fit, not even close! #MMApic.twitter.com/Yk3gp2ataz — Shane Carwin (@ShaneCarwin) October 23, 2016

I hope not. If Fedor fights again I want Fedor-Cro Cop 2 or Fedor-Wandy.

I did accept a fight with Fedor. He likely won't fight again. I meet with Rizin and they have a great offer but NOTHING is signed. — Shane Carwin (@ShaneCarwin) October 24, 2016

Ronda training with legit boxers at least.

FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS

Gegard Mousasi (40-6-2) vs. Uriah Hall (12-7-0); UFC Fight Night 99, November 19.

Ilima MacFarlane (4-0-0) vs. Emily Ducote (4-1-0); Bellator 167, December 3.

Chidi Njokuani (15-4-0, 1 NC) vs. Andre Fialho (7-0-0); Bellator 167, December 3.

Marvin Vettori (11-2-0) vs. Antonio Carlos Jr. (6-2-0, 1 NC); UFC 207, December 30.





TODAY IN MMA HISTORY 2009: Lyoto Machida won controversial decision over Mauricio Rua to successfully defend his UFC light heavyweight championship at UFC 104. The result was so disputable that Rua received his win bonus after the fight and was granted an immediate rematch. 2014: Emanuel Newton submitted Linton Vassell with a fifth round rear-naked choked to retain his Bellator light heavyweight championship at Bellator 130. 2015: Bet you didn't remember that Louis Smolka vs. Patrick Holohan headlined a UFC event, but that happened with Smolka winning by rear-naked choke in the second round.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Jon Jones is really, extraordinarily good at beating people up and I hope that if he does get to return soon that he will get his outside the cage life together.

Back at it again folks. Hope you had a great weekend and that today is even better. See you tomorrow.

If you find something you'd like to see in the Morning Report, just hit me up on Twitter @JedKMeshew and let me know about it. Also follow MMAFighting on Instagram and add us on Snapchat at MMA-Fighting because we post dope things and you should enjoy them.