Jon Jones downs Dan Henderson in grappling match, challenges Chael Sonnen

Even though he’s on the shelf due to a USADA suspension, former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones returned to a different kind of competition Sunday night in the main event of Submission Underground 2.

Jones faced recently retired UFC/Pride/Strikeforce veteran Dan Henderson in a grappling match, a bout originally scheduled for Jones’ UFC belt at UFC 151 but had to be scrapped due to a Henderson knee injury.

The two were jovial in the near 10-minute match that saw Jones controlling the much older Henderson up against the MMA cage they competed in. 

With about three minutes to go, Jones got side mount and kept the action on the mat. Henderson tried to stay active from the bottom, but Jones’ size was too much for him. He eventually got full mount and secured an arm triangle for the quick tap and victory. 

Jones challenged Chael Sonnen to a grappling match on January 29th that Sonnen accepted.

In the co-main event, recently retired Miesha Tate took on current UFC fighter Jessica Eye and defeated her on “escape time” after they went the distance and into overtime.

The show aired live on FloGrappling from Portland, OR, and is the brainchild of Sonnen and FloSports.