Jon Jones remains uncertain about his fighting future, not yet ready to declare if he will compete again or retire for good.
The current UFC heavyweight champion, who last fought in November, dominating Stipe Miocic for his first title defense, has been linked to a potential fight with Tom Aspinall for months. However, the bout remains unscheduled, causing frustration for Aspinall, and Jones` latest comments may only worsen this.
When asked by Vic Blends if fans could expect “one more rodeo,” Jones stated, “I don’t know what life holds as far as fighting and competing.” He added that he sees himself as a “lifelong martial artist,” whether through coaching or exhibition matches, and noted that there is still great competition in the UFC.
Jones feels he is more than just a fighter and, due to his position, has more options than many others regarding leaving and returning.
In previous social media posts, Jones indicated that the UFC is well aware of his plans and he was surprised they haven`t revealed them. He recently traveled to Thailand to film a reality show similar to “The Ultimate Fighter,” but there is still no clear indication of whether he plans to fight again.
There have been many calls for the UFC to strip Jones of his heavyweight title, but this is unlikely as he hasn`t indicated he definitely won`t fight again, and he has only been inactive for six months.
Based on his latest comments, however, Jones does not sound like he is rushing back to the octagon any time soon.
Speaking about 2025, which he called the “quarter-century mark,” Jones said, “Right now I’m just focusing on love, happiness, kindness… This year should be a really special year.” He plans to say “yes to more opportunities,” travel more, and consciously be kinder, adding that his current focus is “just love and kindness and peace and focusing on family and focusing on me, my aura.”
Outside the sport, Jones is exploring different opportunities, including acting, which is something he’s always wanted to do. He finds this a fun transition and enjoys adding new, non-MMA related jobs to his resume while still serving as a mentor to the next generation of fighters.
He said he`s “Just trying to be the best businessman I can be,” and wants to “prove to myself I can be great in more than one field,” mentioning acting. He also wants to “inspire others” and help other UFC fighters avoid mistakes he made regarding “pay and endorsements” and identifying “leeches,” aiming to be a “great mentor to some of these young guys… and make it to heaven.”
Jones believes that no matter what happens, he will always have a passion for the sport. However, there is still no telling if this means he will put on the gloves one last time.
Jon Jones stated, “I’ll always love MMA,” adding, “Somehow the universe made me one of the best at it so I’ll always love it. I’ll always love it.”
