Jon Jones has his sights set on returning to motion when the UFC goes to the White Home for a historic occasion in 2026 and he already has an opponent in thoughts.
Effectively technically, Jones is looking for the particular person holding onto the belt he relinquished after briefly asserting his retirement solely to determine he wished to compete once more following President Donald Trump asserting plans to carry a UFC occasion to the White Home as a part of his plans for the America 250 celebration subsequent July. In an ideal world, Jones would headline the UFC White Home card in opposition to the heavyweight champion — regardless of who has the title at the moment.
“I might wish to tackle whoever’s holding the belt on the finish of the 12 months,” Jones informed Pleasure of Every thing on TikTok. “As of proper now, the champion is Tom Aspinall however we’ll see who’s the champion on the finish of the 12 months. I really feel like it could solely be becoming to have an American man combat for the championship that night time.”
Jones was hooked up to a combat in opposition to Aspinall for many of 2025 till he out of the blue determined to name it a profession. UFC CEO Dana White claimed quite a few occasions he had a deal in place for Jones to face Aspinall, most probably when the promotion returns to Madison Sq. Backyard in New York in November, however plans fell aside.
Jones barely received to get pleasure from his gold watch and time share earlier than he was already declaring plans to return from retirement, which additionally included re-enrolling within the UFC’s anti-doping program. White confirmed Jones has returned to the drug-testing pool to clear his method for a comeback.
The tip purpose is touchdown a spot on that White Home card and Jones acknowledges the magnitude of that occasion is successfully what introduced him again moderately than looking for out any explicit opponent.
“I feel it’s thrilling,” Jones mentioned concerning the White Home card. “Very thrilling. I can’t promise something however I’ve a really robust feeling that I’ll be on that card.
“I feel it’s going to be extremely iconic. It’s going to be historic. In my view, it will likely be simply as massive because the Thrilla in Manilla, Rumble within the Jungle, it’s up there with that. It may very well be larger than that.”
As quickly as Jones retired, the UFC promoted Aspinall to undisputed champion and the British star claimed the promotion already booked him in a brand new combat. All indicators are pointing in the direction of Aspinall battling Ciryl Gane later this 12 months with Jones calling for the winner.
Jones dispatched Gane in simply over two minutes once they met for the vacant heavyweight title again in 2023 and Aspinall is closely favored to ship the same end result.
Lastly getting the Jones combat may sound like Aspinall’s dream come true after he pushed for that matchup from the second Aspinall captured the interim title again in 2023. Then once more, judging by how all the things performed out resulting in Jones’ sudden retirement, this may all find yourself as one other nightmare for Aspinall.
