Jon Jones`s return to the Octagon remains uncertain, but his self-assurance is undeniably strong.
The reigning UFC heavyweight champion, currently traveling globally, has been hinting about his future plans on social media, suggesting the UFC is aware of his intentions. The 37-year-old has been inactive since defending his title against Stipe Miocic last November, having fought only twice since 2020.
A major point of speculation surrounding the future Hall of Famer is whether a clash with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will ever materialize. The 32-year-old Aspinall has frequently expressed his desire for a title unification bout, while Jones has shown little reciprocal interest.
In his most recent social media post, Jones, known as “Bones,” shared an Instagram Story featuring a calm dog easily overpowering a more vocal one. He captioned the post, “What I feel like returning to the UFC after some much-needed downtime.” This implied an easy victory upon his return.
This message serves as a clear dig at Aspinall, whom Jones has often suggested lacks the necessary qualifications for a fight. Aspinall holds an 8-1 UFC record, recently avenging his only loss against Curtis Blaydes with a dominant performance at UFC 304. This victory marked Aspinall`s first successful defense of the interim title, matching Jones`s single heavyweight title defense.
Before transitioning to the heavyweight division, Jones dominated the light heavyweight class for more than ten years, solidifying his status as one of history`s greatest fighters. He secured the vacant heavyweight title (left open by Francis Ngannou`s departure) at UFC 285, achieving a commanding submission win over Ciryl Gane.
In a recent podcast appearance, Aspinall stated he was “done” pursuing a fight with Jones and is prepared to focus on other potential opponents.
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