UFC legend Jon Jones is plotting a full-time move to coaching one of his star pupils into a heavyweight champion.<\/p>\n
Despite UFC CEO Dana White\u2019s repeated dismissals<\/a> of Jon Jones\u2019s desire to fight on the upcoming White House card, Jones remains hopeful he can change his longtime boss\u2019 mind. Jones announced his retirement from MMA in June following seven months of negotiations with the UFC to make a title unification bout with Tom Aspinall.<\/p>\n In the meantime, Jones is staying in shape in hopes of returning to fight for the UFC heavyweight title next year. Aspinall, the newly-crowned undisputed champ, will fight Jones\u2019s one-time rival Ciryl Gane in the UFC 321 headliner.<\/p>\n As the UFC heavyweight division moves on without Jones, there are plenty of heavyweight prospects moving closer to a shot inside the Octagon. One of Jones\u2019s top pupils earned a strong endorsement from the former UFC heavyweight champion to take his former throne.<\/p>\n \u2018Coach\u2019 Jon Jones promises Gable Steveson will become a UFC champion<\/p>\n In a recent response to a question from an X<\/a> follower, Jones promised to coach Gable Steveson to a UFC championship.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not a matter of if he can, it\u2019s a matter of when,\u201d Jones said of Steveson.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve had many great teammates over the years, but I\u2019ve always said if I would ever be a coach it would have to be a Wrestler who was completely committed to success.<\/p>\n \u201cI found my guy and I\u2019m excited to add world championship coach to my resume.\u201d<\/p>\n