UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones doesn`t appear to be in a hurry to step back into the octagon.
The current titleholder, who has recently been involved in filming a reality show in Thailand, has remained busy outside the sport. This has left many in the MMA world wondering when he might finally face interim champion Tom Aspinall. Although Jones previously made a somewhat vague statement suggesting the UFC is aware of his plans, the promotion`s public communication has primarily consisted of Dana White`s repeated reassurances that the fight with Aspinall is still expected to happen.
On Wednesday, Jones directly responded to a question about whether he was already retired. His answer did little to instill confidence about a swift return to competition.
“I don`t know if I wanna call it retired,” Jones wrote on Twitter. “I feel like I`ll always have an ability to pop out and show em. I`ve had many breaks throughout my career, my identity outside of fighting is well intact. I`m genuinely enjoying life, I`m growing in different ways.”
Jones`s last fight took place in November, where he successfully defended his heavyweight title for the first time by defeating former champion Stipe Miocic.
Since securing that victory, Jones has not made a definitive commitment to fighting again. Nevertheless, Dana White has expressed strong confidence on multiple occasions that the future Hall of Famer will indeed return to unify the belts with Aspinall, who holds the interim title.
Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall has voiced increasing frustration as his own layoff continues. His most recent fight was a knockout victory over Curtis Blaydes in England in July 2024 (Note: The date provided in the source text appears to be a future date and may be a typo).
Based on Jones`s latest comments, it seems unlikely he will compete in the immediate future. This situation may potentially force Aspinall to make a significant decision about his own career path rather than continue waiting indefinitely for the unification bout.
