Jon Jones might not be done with fighting, but if he does come back, it won\u2019t be to box Oleksandr Usyk.<\/p>\n
Last month, unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk announced he\u2019s vacating his boxing world championships to pursue a \u201clast dance\u201d fight for fun. While most people disregarded it, Jones\u2019 name quickly came up as a potential superfight opponent for Usyk\u2019s retirement, but Jones isn\u2019t giving that idea any traction.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, not at all,\u201d Jones told Ring Magazine. \u201cUsyk is Usyk, man. He\u2019s one of the absolute GOATs of boxing, of heavyweight boxing. I also am aware that he does wrestling, and wrestling has been a heavy part of his training for years. It\u2019s probably why he\u2019s so dominant in the clinch. If he\u2019d like to test his total combat skills, I would oblige him in that. But to handicap myself by only using my hands, that\u2019s not the world that I come from.<\/p>\n
\u201cOut of all of the heavyweight boxers, I do see Usyk having the highest potential at making it competitive, but I am no boxer, and I don\u2019t consider Usyk to be a complete fighter. I think the world knows what would happen if we were locked in the same room, and I\u2019ll just leave it at that.\u201d<\/p>\n
But while Jones may not be interested in boxing Usyk, the UFC Hall of Famer isn\u2019t quite ready to declare himself done with MMA. Jones briefly retired from the sport in 2025 but ended his retirement soon after to pursue a spot on the UFC White House card. That, obviously, didn\u2019t end up happening, but it didn\u2019t change Jones\u2019 retirement decision. Because while he has no immediate plans to compete, Jones says he\u2019s not going to officially retire, either.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to me actually fighting anyone, I just keep the door open,\u201d Jones said. \u201cI\u2019m still in the UFC\u2019s testing pool. I get drug tested, blood tested all the time. I\u2019m living vicariously through my buddy Gable Steveson right now. I tell everybody that. Being backstage, being around the fans, seeing that passion, being in the training gym, I get to do it all over again through Gable. So, I\u2019m giving him my absolute best, teaching him everything I know about the sport, and that\u2019s been really fulfilling for me.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think for a lot of fans as well, they\u2019re like, \u2018Jon, when are you going to come back?\u2019 And those same fans, they\u2019re like, \u2018Hey, welcome back, Coach Jones.\u2019 So I\u2019m getting my itch. I feel like I\u2019m giving the fans their itch, but I\u2019m doing it with a younger generation of fighter. And I feel like that\u2019s what life\u2019s all about. \u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s fulfilling. Not as fulfilling as being in the ring or in the octagon, but it is scratching that itch. I can genuinely say I\u2019m happy right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
But happy right now does not mean happy forever. And while the longer he waits, the less likely it is that Jones returns to the cage, he can see a world where he has his own last dance.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe door is open,\u201d Jones said. \u201cLike I said, I\u2019m still in that drug-testing pool. I\u2019m just allowing time to fly by by focusing on somebody else. I feel like if I get that calling, maybe from the higher powers, that kind of tugging, then I\u2019m going to have to answer that call. But right now, I feel like I\u2019m in the right place, which is serving someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dreams. Kamaru Usman says it\u2019s either Sean Strickland or Islam Makhachev next if he wins at UFC OKC<\/a>.<\/p>\n Goals. Jake Paul still chasing Nate Diaz fight in MMA<\/a>, open to Floyd Mayweather next in boxing: \u2018He needs the money.\u2019<\/p>\n Class? Colby Covington reacts to Conor McGregor\u2019s injury at UFC 329, won\u2019t \u2018kick him while he\u2019s down\u2019<\/a> like Dustin Poirier.<\/p>\n Big Number. UFC 329 draws nearly 16 million viewers<\/a> for the return of Conor McGregor.<\/p>\n Ridiculous. Dricus du Plessis calls potential Sean Strickland vs. Khamzat Chimaev rematch \u2018ridiculous.\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Phenom. 19-year-old grappling phenom Helena Crevar welcomes super fights<\/a> against the best of the best from MMA.<\/p>\n Loss. Justin Gaethje loses Fighter of the Year ESPY<\/a> to Terence Crawford.<\/p>\n SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE<\/p>\n Sean O\u2019Malley being Paddy Pimblett.<\/p>\n Glad that\u2019s cleared up.<\/p>\n So that\u2019s what\u2019s in Secret Juice.<\/p>\n Lerone Murphy\u2019s daily diet.<\/p>\n UFC OKC is not the best card, but the main event is weird and interesting. I\u2019m here for it.<\/p>\n Enjoy the fights, y\u2019all. See y\u2019all next week.<\/p>\n If you find something you\u2019d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee<\/a> of @JedKMeshew<\/a> on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, Twitch<\/a>, and like us on Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n