Sorry Daniel Cormier, but Jon Jones coming back 'a lot sooner than you think' and 'will be champion again'

Daniel Cormier is the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) light heavyweight champion and will be defending his 205-pound strap against Alexander Gustafsson in the UFC 192 pay-per-view (PPV) main event on Oct. 3, 2015 in Houston, Texas.

That said, "DC" wouldn't have a title to defend had Jon Jones -- who handily defeated the Olympian at UFC 182 -- not been suspended for his run in with Johnny Law back in April. "Bones" was suspended and stripped of his title with no set return date.

But Chael Sonnen, who knows a thing or two about the ex-champ, told News.com.au he expects it to be sooner, rather than later.

"I think Jon Jones is gonna be back a lot sooner than you think. He's still got to get through a court date and anything could happen there — including jail time. If he gets jail time that just kicks the can down the road farther as far as his return. He'll definitely be back and he will be champion again. He's a young guy that behaves as a young guy. Some people get success and they change, I don't know that he's changed. He was behaving like a knucklehead before he was champion and he behaves like a knucklehead now. He's a young guy and I think a little bit needs to be considered there. He's a fist-fighter, he fights inside a steel cage I'm not totally sure all that's expected of him, and why? He's a very nice guy and that story never gets told, it seems like whenever he does something bad there's always a camera around him but when he does something nice it just goes unnoticed. I know him pretty well and he's a nice guy — he just behaves like a knucklehead and to me that sounds like a pretty regular person."

Most regular folks don't do this, but I understand his point.

Jones was charged with felony hit-and-run and could face jail time depending on the outcome of his next court appearance. When and where that happens is anyone's guess, as "Bones" is waiting for the prosecution to complete its case investigation.

See you in 2016?