Images via UFC and Donald Trump’s Instagram At the UFC Baku post-fight presser, Dana White made the shocking announcement to the world that Jon Jones has hung up his gloves for good. The UFC head honcho also announced the coronation of Tom Aspinall as the undisputed heavyweight champion after holding the interim gold for nearly 600 days. Just a day later, ‘Bones’ also released a message on his social media confirming his retirement. However, it seems that the promise is not going to last after President Donald Trump’s bumper announcement earlier this month, with Jones already charting a course for his Octagon return.
Jon Jones Is Ready to Risk It All to Become UFC Heavyweight Champion Again
At a recent event, Trump announced that the UFC will host an event on the grounds of the White House. Dana White even locked the date for the event, which is set to go down on 4th July 2026, on America’s 250th birthday. And if there is someone who can main event that iconic card, then it’s Jones. Two weeks after his retirement call, Jones announced that he had re-entered the drug testing pool. And now, in a chat with Joy of Everything on TikTok, the former 2-division champion made his intentions clear. “I can’t promise anyone anything, but I have a very strong feeling that I’ll be on that card.” Moreover, the consensus MMA GOAT even compared his potential return to two of the biggest boxing events of all time. “I think it’s going to be historic. It will be as big as the ‘Thrilla in Manilla’, or ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’, it’s up there with that. Essentially, it could be bigger than that. I would want to take on whoever is holding the belt at the end of the year.”Jones then hinted at a potential superfight with Tom Aspinall if he still has the belt by the time UFC White House comes to town. “As of right now, the champion is Tom Aspinall, but we’ll see who the champion is at the end of the year. I feel like to have an American fight for a championship that night, I would put it all on the line…right now, I’m just trying to be a good citizen.”
Conor McGregor Is in Line to Make His Return at UFC White House
Jon Jones might not be the only superstar headlining the UFC’s historic event at the White House next year. Conor McGregor, who hasn’t stepped into the Octagon since breaking his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, is eyeing a return in 2025.According to BKFC president David Feldman, McGregor personally told him that his comeback talks are real. Feldman said the Irishman is back in the USADA testing pool and working toward a UFC return. However, there’s one major issue: despite McGregor’s claims, he hasn’t recorded a single drug test in 2025. That raises questions about the timeline of his return and whether fans will see him back in action anytime soon.Also read: Jon Jones retires from UFC with heartfelt message as fresh legal trouble shadows final exit