Former UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones compared his planned UFC return to the ‘Thrilla in Manilla’.
Jon Jones rocked the MMA world when he announced his retirement from fighting after months of contract talks to fight Tom Aspinall. Just weeks after his retirement, Jones reversed course, and the former heavyweight champion has detailed his plans to return to the Octagon.
Jones, arguably the greatest fighter in UFC history, is plotting a return to fighting at The White House next year. U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent announcement for a card at The White House lured the former two-division champion out of retirement.
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Jon Jones reopens the door to potential Tom Aspinall matchup as UFC comeback talks swirl
After being promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, Aspinall wants to help turn the division around. A matchup between top contenders Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida is reportedly in the works for UFC 321 with the winner potentially facing Aspinall next.
Despite Volkov vs. Almeida on the table, Jones plans to interrupt the heavyweight title picture in an attempt to become a two-time heavyweight champion.
In a recent walk-and-talk interview with TikToker Joy Of Everything, Jones detailed his comeback plans and compared his return to two of the most iconic boxing fights in history.
“I can’t promise anyone anything, but I have a very strong feeling that I’ll be on that card,” Jones said.
“I think it’s going to be historic. It will be as big as the ‘Thrilla in Manilla’, or ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’, it’s up there with that. Essentially, it could be bigger than that. I would want to take on whoever is holding the belt at the end of the year. As of right now, the champion is Tom Aspinall, but we’ll see who the champion is at the end of the year.
“I feel like to have an American fight for a championship that night, I would put it all on the line…right now, I’m just trying to be a good citizen.”
Jones defeated Stipe Miocic by TKO at UFC 309 in November, before entering lengthy contract talks with the UFC. Dana White repeatedly guaranteed Jones vs. Aspinall would come to fruition this year, but after Jones’s latest comments, the dream matchup will have to wait a little longer to happen.
Jones is also interested in a matchup with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who departed the UFC for the PFL in 2023. Crossover fight talks between Jones and Ngannou have been resurrected in recent weeks.
Conor McGregor’s business partner confirms UFC comeback plans after recent conversation
But Jones might not be the only top-tier headliner for the UFC’s planned event at The White House next year.
Conor McGregor, who hasn’t fought since injuring his leg against Dustin Poirier at UFC 264, is eyeing a return to the Octagon next year. Bare Knuckle FC president David Feldman recently claimed that McGregor assured him that his UFC comeback teases are legitimate, and he’s back in the testing pool and working towards a comeback.
Despite McGregor’s claims, he hasn’t registered a drug test in 2025, potentially further delaying his comeback plans.
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