Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones might have a targeted date to reverse his retirement.
Jon Jones shocked the MMA world when he announced his abrupt retirement from combat sports last month after months of contract talks with the UFC. As fans and pundits began to lose hope in a potential Jones vs. Tom Aspinall showdown, Jones squashed speculation of a potential booking when he opted to hang up the gloves.
Just weeks after kicking off his retirement, Jones has reversed course and hinted at a future return to the cage. Jones’s manager confirmed that the legendary fighter has re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool to keep his options open.
After U.S. President Donald Trump announced an upcoming UFC event at The White House, many speculated that Jones would return to feature on the unprecedented card.
Jon Jones responds to potential UFC event at The White House for Tom Aspinall showdown
Trump sent shockwaves around MMA when he pitched that UFC CEO Dana White build an Octagon on The White House lawn and host an event to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States’ independence in 2026. The UFC issued a vague response to Trump’s comments, revealing that more details would be revealed soon.
Trump and Jones share a cordial relationship, as they had a spirited cageside chat following Jones’s most-recent victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Trump is an avid UFC fan and invited the likes of Jones, Jorge Masvidal, Colby Covington, and UFC commentator Joe Rogan to Washington D.C. to his inauguration in January.
After Aspinall was promoted to the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champion following Jones’s retirement, many believed that the dream clash would never come to fruition. But in light of Trump’s recent announcement, many have speculated if the fight was back on the table for 2026.
In a recent Instagram post, digital creator ACGraphixs posted an image of Jones celebrating a knockout win over Aspinall at The White House, with Trump and others sitting Octagonside.
It didn’t take long for Jones to take notice, as he acknowledged the possibility of the image becoming a reality.
“I like this,” Jones commented.
UFC fans went wild in response to Jones’s comment.
“Make it happen GOAT,” one fan wrote.
“Finish the legacy!” another said.
“Kick his — then go out and eat fish and chips to rub it in.”
“Don’t tell me we actually end up getting the fight!”
White acknowledged Trump’s recent comments over a potential event at The White House, saying ‘I love it!’ in response to McGregor’s recent comeback tease. The UFC hasn’t hosted an event in the U.S. capitol since a 2019 UFC Fight Night headliner between Alistair Overeem and Jairzinho Rozenstruik.
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Jon Jones re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool as fans explode over potential return
After Jones re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool, he’ll need to be in the pool for at least six months before being eligible to return to competition. This sets his potential UFC return timeline for January 2026, at the earliest.
In the meantime, Aspinall is expected to return later this year for his first title defense as undisputed heavyweight champion. Ciryl Gane and Alexander Volkov are two potential names in the mix for Aspinall’s return opponent.
If the UFC is serious about hosting an event at The White House, many top names could feature on the card, including Jones and Aspinall. In honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States winning independence from England, a Jones vs. Aspinall showdown would add more fireworks to the fourth of July celebrations.