Amidst buzz surrounding President Donald Trump`s announcement of plans for a UFC event at the White House in 2026, former champion Jon Jones appears to be considering a return to the octagon. The potential event, set for Independence Day, has already garnered excitement from fighters like Conor McGregor.
Jones, 37, recently fueled speculation about a potential comeback, just weeks after announcing his retirement in June. He took to social media, reacting to the White House event news by posting “Fighting at The White House?” accompanied by an emoji. He further teased fans by stating he had “Just re-entered the testing pool,” adding “that lasted for about two weeks. Figured we’d keep everyone’s options open.”
Jones had announced his retirement on June 21, capping a period of relative inactivity since 2020 where he claimed the heavyweight title but only competed twice. His tenure atop the heavyweight division was marked by criticism for not facing interim champion Tom Aspinall, who sought a unification bout. Following Jones`s retirement, Aspinall was elevated to undisputed champion.
The prospect of Jon Jones participating would likely appeal to Donald Trump, given their past interactions. Trump was notably in attendance at one of Jones`s recent fights, where Jones greeted the president cageside and even incorporated one of Trump`s signature dance moves into his celebration.
