UFC Champ Jon Jones to take part in MLB All-Star weekend's "All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game"

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

In what will likely be his first publicized public appearance since pleading guilty to DWI charges last month, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones will take part in Major League Baseball's All-Star weekend festivities next month.

Jones will play in the 2012 Taco Bell All-Star Legends & Celebrity Softball Game at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., on Sunday, July 8. The game will be broadcast on Monday night, July 9, on ESPN following the Home Run Derby.

The UFC Champ will join television, film, and sports starts, alongside several retired MLB players. From the press release:

"'Modern Family' Emmy Award winner and Kansas City native Eric Stonestreet; Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel; and University of Kansas Men's Basketball Head Coach Bill Self are scheduled to participate alongside Golden Globe winner and 'Mad Men' star Jon Hamm; Chord Overstreet from 'Glee'; American Idol contestant Haley Reinhart; 'Desperate Housewives' actor James Denton; captain of the US National Soccer team Carlos Bocanegra; actor and comedian Horatio Sanz; country music artist David Nail; American Idol winner, David Cook, who used to work at the Stadium Club in Kauffman Stadium; Paul Dimeo from 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'; and USA Softball's hurler Jennie Finch.

Past MLB stars also are schedule to participate, including former Royals greats George Brett, Bo Jackson and Mike Sweeney plus Hall of Famers Ernie Banks, Andre Dawson, Rollie Fingers, Rickey Henderson, Ozzie Smith and Dave Winfield as well as perennial All-Stars Joe Carter and Mike Piazza."

Jones' next fight will come against Dan Henderson on September 1, a headlining bout in Las Vegas at UFC 151.

[Jon Jones art by Grant Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_13631.shtml

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