Jon Jones’ short-lived UFC retirement is officially over.
As of Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, Jones’ name has officially returned to the UFC drug testing pool. This is strong evidence that Jones is doing more than social media baiting, because returning to the testing pool is a significant commitment for the athlete that involves random testing and location tracking. Given Jones’ complicated history with drug tests and drug testers, it’s a clear sign that he’s serious about his comeback.
Like Jones, former double champion Conor McGregor also recently returned to the testing pool and has expressed interest in the UFC White House event. If that duo is able to keep it together and get back in shape, the White House card scheduled for July 4, 2026 could turn out to be one of the most high-profile events in many years.
Or, more likely, neither man will be on the card given their recent track record. Jones still has pending criminal charges to deal with, after all. Still, the update better than nothing, and UFC would love to have one or both of its biggest stars back in action.