UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones doesn`t seem to be in a hurry to step back into the octagon. The reigning champion, who has recently been occupied filming a reality show in Thailand, has been active away from fighting while much of the MMA world speculates on a potential clash with interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Jones previously issued a somewhat cryptic statement suggesting the UFC is fully aware of his future plans, although the promotion itself, through Dana White, has consistently maintained that the highly anticipated bout with Aspinall is still going to happen.
Addressing questions directly on Wednesday regarding whether he was already retired, Jones offered a response that didn`t exactly instill confidence about an immediate return to competition.
Writing on Twitter, Jones stated, “I don’t know if I wanna call it retired. I feel like I’ll always have an ability to pop out and show em. I’ve had many breaks throughout my career, my identity outside of fighting is well intact. I’m genuinely enjoying life, I’m growing in different ways.”
Jones last competed in November of the previous year, successfully defending his heavyweight title for the first time by finishing former champion Stipe Miocic.
Since that victory, Jones has not made a definitive commitment to fighting again. Despite this, UFC President Dana White has repeatedly expressed certainty that the future Hall of Famer will indeed return to unify his title against the interim titleholder, Aspinall.
Meanwhile, Aspinall has grown increasingly restless as his layoff continues, extending further since his last fight in July 2023, where he secured a knockout victory over Curtis Blaydes in England.
Based on Jones` most recent remarks, it appears he is not anticipating a return to action anytime soon. This prolonged uncertainty could potentially force Aspinall to make a decision regarding his own career path, given the length of time he has been waiting for the undisputed title opportunity.
