LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 20: Jon Jones speaks to the media at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino on April 20, 2016 in Las Vegas Nevada. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC 197 stars Ovince Saint Preux, Demetrious Johnson and Henry Cejudo all put on stellar shows for fans Wednesday afternoon at open workouts from the MGM Grand. But there's no doubt fans were there to catch former light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, who was making his Octagon return after more than a year away.
Jones made his way to the mats, slowly, soaking up his first UFC fight-week related event since January of 2015.
Jones then took to the center of the workout area and asked the DJ to cut the music before he made an announcement -- he wouldn't be working out.
Instead, the UFC's No. 1 pound-for-pound said he wanted to make his way around the room and sign autographs and take pictures. So after a short scrum with the media, Jones spent the next 20 minutes or so interacting with fans.
It was an admirable move for Jones, whose image certainly has taken a hit during his shaky time away. But this is a move in the right direction for Jones.
So while there were no punches or kicks thrown, if you had your phone ready, you probably got a selfie with Jon Jones, which, in today's Instagram world, is way cooler.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.