Jon Jones has apologised to Stipe Miocic after withdrawing from their planned fight at UFC 295, as the heavyweight champion prepares for surgery. Jones, a former two-time light-heavyweight champion, was due to defend the heavyweight belt against divisional great Miocic on 11 November, but “Bones” sustained an injury in training this week. “He was wrestling, and he tore the tendon that connects your pec to the bone... off the bone,” said UFC president Dana White, who added that Jones, 36, will be out for around eight months. White also announced that Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich will now fight for the interim heavyweight title at UFC 295. In his first words since suffering the injury, Jones said in an Instagram video on Thursday (26 October): “Thank you to everybody who’s checked in with me to see how I was feeling. Obviously a very sad situation, very upset, but I’ve been through a lot of things in life, and injuries is a part of being an athlete. “I want to thank the UFC for getting me into one of the best doctors in the country, Dr Neal ElAttrache. Thank you to Dr Neal ElAttrache and his staff members over here in California for seeing me so quick. I wanted to say thank you to Stipe Miocic for all the work that he’s put in. Also, sorry to Stipe and his team. This comes with the territory. “Thank you to all my coaches and training partners, everyone who has helped me get this far – can’t even say to the fight, but the goal is to get surgery tomorrow and get back to work as soon as possible. I guess it’ll be Stipe and I at a later date, and that’s my plan. “So, it’ll be surgery and physical therapy for me for the next several months, but I’m committed. I’m committed, and my head is high. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for me, and I love you all. “And again, sincere apology to the fans. I know some of you guys, it was a huge commitment to get out to Madison Square Garden [where UFC 295 will take place in New York City]. Hopefully these other heavyweights, Aspinall and Sergei, put on a great show for you guys. I may even show up to the event to watch. But I love you all, and your boy Jon Jones is doing okay, and I’ll be okay. Take care.” Jones was expected by many fans to retire after fighting Miocic, 41. Jones’s heavyweight title win in March, when he submitted Ciryl Gane in Round 1, was the American’s first fight in three years and marked his debut in the division. Meanwhile, his compatriot Miocic has not fought since losing the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou by knockout in March 2021. The former co-main event of UFC 295 has been elevated to the main event, as ex-middleweight champion Alex Pereira fights former light-heavyweight champion Jiri Prochazka for the vacant title at 205lbs. Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos. Read More Jon Jones out of UFC 295 as Dana White announces new heavyweight title fight UFC schedule 2023: Every fight happening this year Conor McGregor tipped to fight Khabib Nurmagomedov protege next

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Colleen Ballinger has faced renewed backlash after old footage reemerges appearing to show her performing in blackface to a Beyonce song. Ballinger is also known for her online persona Miranda Sings who became popular in the 2010s by sharing satirical clips of her singing. Recently, she has faced accusations of grooming minors and was criticised by former fans for turning an apology into a “joke” after posting a video singing and playing the ukulele while referencing the situation Now, the 36-year-old has faced significant backlash for appearing to perform in blackface in a video posted on her YouTube five years ago which remains up as an unlisted clip. In the video, she can be seen wearing a black leotard and is flanked by two male backing dancers as she does an awkward performance of Beyonce’s Single Ladies with what appears to be a black substance painted on her face. A clip from the video was shared on Twitter by British social media influencer Paige Christie, who wrote: “I’m gonna need someone to explain the black on her face…” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter The clip left viewers shocked, particularly after Christie did some investigating and found the video had been uploaded as recently as 2018. One person responded: “WHAT?! How has she only now been cancelled pls and the people laughing. I feel sick.” It’s not the first time Ballinger has been accused of racism and racial stereotyping and in 2020, the singer apologised in which she pretended to be Latina. In a video, she said, “It is not funny, and it is completely hurtful”. She continued: “I am so ashamed and embarrassed that I ever thought this was OK. I was a sheltered teenager who was stupid and ignorant and clearly extremely culturally insensitive… Racial stereotypes are not funny, they’re not a joke, and they should never be joked about.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.

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