Jon Jones didn’t take long to reverse course on his latest retirement comments.
This past weekend, Jones told Red Corner MMA, “My gloves are hung up… no more fighter Jon Jones,” which seemed to signal that the 38-year-old former two-division UFC champion had made up his mind about not competing again. However, that wasn’t the first time Jones has confirmed a retirement. UFC CEO Dana White and Jones declared his fighting days were over this past June only for Jones to change his mind when the possibility of fighting at UFC White House presented itself.
Now, he’s done it again.
“We had that conversation tonight,” Jones said at a Dirty Boxing event in Miami on Friday, after speaking to UFC CBO Hunter Campbell. “Yeah, we did have that conversation. I took a stem cell right before the White House card was created, and I’m starting to feel the effects of that stem cell, I feel really good physically.”
Jones has previously pointed to issues with “severe arthritis” that have hindered his comeback attempts, but that didn’t stop him from pursuing a spot on the UFC White House card. Unfortunately for Jones, he was eventually left off of the June 14 lineup, prompting him to publicly ask the UFC to release him.
It’s unclear if Jones’ chat with Campbell is a sign of any progress or if Jones simply keeping his options open as he has for several years since his most recent fight in November 2024. Jones defeated Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 to successfully defend the heavyweight title, adding to a long list of accolades that also includes 11 successful light heavyweight title defenses over a span of nine years. His legacy has only been blemished by outside-of-the-cage mishaps, including failed drug tests, a domestic violence arrest, a hit-and-run that brought an end to his first light heavyweight reign, and other infractions.
Whatever Jones is planning, he’s in no rush to make a decision. His top priority right now is guiding the career of top heavyweight prospect Gable Steveson, who is currently set to wrestle at RAF 9 on May 30, and is expected to sign with the UFC in the near future.
“So I told them let’s not put any pressure on anything, I want to focus on coaching Gable right now,” Jones said. “But who knows what the future holds?”
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