Reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones said he is undecided on the future of his legendary mixed martial arts career and did not commit either to a return to the Octagon or to retirement. The uncertainty around the direction of his career comes as more than 130,000 people signed an online petition to strip him of his heavyweight title because he “clearly has no intentions of fighting anytime soon.”
UFC CEO Dana White has been insistent that Jones will fight interim champion Tom Aspinall this year, but the fight remains unbooked. Jones last appeared in the Octagon last November when he defeated Stipe Miocic to defend his title.
“I don’t know what life holds as far as fighting and competing,” Jones said. “I do feel like I’ll be a lifelong martial artist whether I’m coaching others or taking exhibition matches and things like that. There’s a lot of great competition still in the UFC. I do view myself as more than a fighter, and being in my position, I feel like I have a lot more options than a lot of the other fighters as far as the ability to leave and return and things like that.”
Frustration among fans abounds as they await a potential title fight between Jones and Aspinall, which is a year and a half in the making since the latter won the interim title. A UFC champion and interim champion are supposed to square off for a title unifier, but it remains unclear when or if that will occur.
Aspinall became the fourth fighter in UFC history to defend an interim title when he did so last year. He has not fought since July 2024 and awaits an opportunity against Jones with a chance to become the undisputed champion.
“Right now I’m just focusing on love, happiness, kindness,” Jones said. “We’re in the quarter-century mark and this year should be a really special year. This year I’m saying yes to more opportunities. I’m traveling more. I’m consciously being kinder to people, and that’s just the way of my mind right now, is just love and kindness and peace and focusing on family and focusing on me, my aura.”
Jones holds numerous UFC records across multiple divisions and has been widely considered the greatest mixed martial artist in the world throughout his storied career. Legal issues and controversies halted his career and resulted in disciplinary action — including suspensions, removal from the UFC rankings and the vacating of multiple titles — but Jones remains highly decorated with 28 wins and just one loss as a professional fighter.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Fila? Jestli byl naštvaný, vyříkáme si to. Horníčkovi nic nevyčítám, reagoval Suchopárek po Anglii
FotogalerieDunajská Streda (od našeho zpravodaje) – Do tiskového centra po prohraném zápase dorazil trenér české jednadvacítky Jan Suchopárek viditelně rozladěný. V úplně jiné náladě než při lehce rozverné předzápasové tiskovce. Není divu – jeho svěřenci byli blízko úspěchu, ale rozhodla větší produktivita hvězdného soupeře.„Na naši úroveň a poměry to byl však velice slušný výkon,“ uznal kouč Lvíčat.Trenére, jak moc tedy bolí prohra ve vcelku vyrovnaném souboji s obhájci?Spokojení být nemůžeme. Rozhodlo naše neproměňování šancí, i když nešlo o úplně stoprocentní příležitosti. V určitých fázích zápasu jsme mohli vyrovnat a dostat soupeře do jiné situace. Je škoda gólu těsně před poločasem, trochu nás to nahlodalo. Vytvářeli jsme si spoustu šancí ze standardek, a kdyby nám tam něco spadlo, mohlo to být jiné.Srovnat mohl hned po přestávce Václav Sejk. Jak jste tu situaci viděl?Tyhle klíčové momenty nešly v náš prospěch. Sejk mohl vyrovnat, ale vzápětí jsme inkasovali a museli dohánět dvougólové manko. Největší deficit […]
Phil Mickelson walks in silence in possibly his last U.S. Open
OAKMONT, Pa. — As Phil Mickelson, aka Lefty, aka Phil the Thrill, aka FIGJAM, aka one of the two most famous golfers of the 21st century, teed off Thursday in what might be his final U.S. Open, there were more security guards than journalists following him. And there were two security guards.Clad in HyFlyers gear, looking more trim than he ever did during his apex of popularity, Mickelson — like many of his fellow competitors at Oakmont — played well on the back nine and struggled on the front. And like most of his fellow competitors, he walked in virtual silence from the galleries, with only an occasional “Go Phil!” punctuating the silence.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBy this point, Mickelson’s fall from golf’s good graces isn’t just well-documented, it’s canon. Once the darling of the golf world — the rascally, cocky yin to Tiger […]
Best NHL bets today: Props, top picks, score prediction for Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Final Game 4
Imagn Images The Edmonton Oilers have dropped consecutive games after taking Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, and they enter Thursday's Game 4 down 2-1 to the Florida Panthers. Game 1 saw Edmonton win in overtime before Florida took Game 2 in double overtime, but Game 3 was a 6-1 blowout win for the Panthers, who are eyeing their second straight Stanley Cup after they beat the Oilers in seven games a year ago. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers are -149 favorites (wager $149 to win $100) in the latest Panthers vs. Oilers odds, while the Oilers are +125 underdogs (wager $100 to win $125). The over-under for goals scored is 6.5. Before you make any NHL picks of your own, make sure to see the best NHL bets today from SportsLine […]
Pacers, Thunder stick with same approaches for Game 4
Jun 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates with his bench during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't panicking. The Indiana Pacers aren't taking anything for granted. Heading into Friday's Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Indianapolis, the teams say they're not changing much about the approaches that have worked for them. The Pacers lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 -- an edge they've held in each of their four series this postseason. "That's the challenge before us right now, is to maintain," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "It's got to be a killer edge to beat these guys. We're going to be an underdog in every game in this series. ... […]
Denny Hamlin to miss NASCAR’s Mexico City race following birth of son
<!--> MEXICO CITY — Denny Hamlin will not race at the inaugural Cup Series event this weekend in Mexico City after the birth of his son Wednesday.Joe Gibbs Racing reserve driver Ryan Truex will drive the No. 11 Cup car at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Denny Hamlin's family has expanded following the birth of his son this week. --> <!-->The son was the third child for Hamlin and fiancée Jordan Fish."We are happy to announce the birth of our son," Hamlin said in a statement. "Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five."I appreciate everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, our partners, and our fans for the support over the […]
Denny Hamlin to miss NASCAR’s Mexico City race following birth of son
<!--> MEXICO CITY — Denny Hamlin will not race at the inaugural Cup Series event this weekend in Mexico City after the birth of his son Wednesday.Joe Gibbs Racing reserve driver Ryan Truex will drive the No. 11 Cup car at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Denny Hamlin's family has expanded following the birth of his son this week. --> <!-->The son was the third child for Hamlin and fiancée Jordan Fish."We are happy to announce the birth of our son," Hamlin said in a statement. "Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five."I appreciate everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, our partners, and our fans for the support over the […]
Related
Fila? Jestli byl naštvaný, vyříkáme si to. Horníčkovi nic nevyčítám, reagoval Suchopárek po Anglii
FotogalerieDunajská Streda (od našeho zpravodaje) – Do tiskového centra po prohraném zápase dorazil trenér české jednadvacítky Jan Suchopárek viditelně rozladěný. V úplně jiné náladě než při lehce rozverné předzápasové tiskovce. Není divu – jeho svěřenci byli blízko úspěchu, ale rozhodla větší produktivita hvězdného soupeře.„Na naši úroveň a poměry to byl však velice slušný výkon,“ uznal kouč Lvíčat.Trenére, jak moc tedy bolí prohra ve vcelku vyrovnaném souboji s obhájci?Spokojení být nemůžeme. Rozhodlo naše neproměňování šancí, i když nešlo o úplně stoprocentní příležitosti. V určitých fázích zápasu jsme mohli vyrovnat a dostat soupeře do jiné situace. Je škoda gólu těsně před poločasem, trochu nás to nahlodalo. Vytvářeli jsme si spoustu šancí ze standardek, a kdyby nám tam něco spadlo, mohlo to být jiné.Srovnat mohl hned po přestávce Václav Sejk. Jak jste tu situaci viděl?Tyhle klíčové momenty nešly v náš prospěch. Sejk mohl vyrovnat, ale vzápětí jsme inkasovali a museli dohánět dvougólové manko. Největší deficit […]
Phil Mickelson walks in silence in possibly his last U.S. Open
OAKMONT, Pa. — As Phil Mickelson, aka Lefty, aka Phil the Thrill, aka FIGJAM, aka one of the two most famous golfers of the 21st century, teed off Thursday in what might be his final U.S. Open, there were more security guards than journalists following him. And there were two security guards.Clad in HyFlyers gear, looking more trim than he ever did during his apex of popularity, Mickelson — like many of his fellow competitors at Oakmont — played well on the back nine and struggled on the front. And like most of his fellow competitors, he walked in virtual silence from the galleries, with only an occasional “Go Phil!” punctuating the silence.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBy this point, Mickelson’s fall from golf’s good graces isn’t just well-documented, it’s canon. Once the darling of the golf world — the rascally, cocky yin to Tiger […]
Best NHL bets today: Props, top picks, score prediction for Oilers vs. Panthers Stanley Cup Final Game 4
Imagn Images The Edmonton Oilers have dropped consecutive games after taking Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final, and they enter Thursday's Game 4 down 2-1 to the Florida Panthers. Game 1 saw Edmonton win in overtime before Florida took Game 2 in double overtime, but Game 3 was a 6-1 blowout win for the Panthers, who are eyeing their second straight Stanley Cup after they beat the Oilers in seven games a year ago. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. ET in Sunrise, Fla. The Panthers are -149 favorites (wager $149 to win $100) in the latest Panthers vs. Oilers odds, while the Oilers are +125 underdogs (wager $100 to win $125). The over-under for goals scored is 6.5. Before you make any NHL picks of your own, make sure to see the best NHL bets today from SportsLine […]
Pacers, Thunder stick with same approaches for Game 4
Jun 11, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) celebrates with his bench during the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma City Thunder in game three of the 2025 NBA Finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images The Oklahoma City Thunder aren't panicking. The Indiana Pacers aren't taking anything for granted. Heading into Friday's Game 4 of the NBA Finals in Indianapolis, the teams say they're not changing much about the approaches that have worked for them. The Pacers lead the best-of-seven series 2-1 -- an edge they've held in each of their four series this postseason. "That's the challenge before us right now, is to maintain," Indiana coach Rick Carlisle said. "It's got to be a killer edge to beat these guys. We're going to be an underdog in every game in this series. ... […]
Denny Hamlin to miss NASCAR’s Mexico City race following birth of son
<!--> MEXICO CITY — Denny Hamlin will not race at the inaugural Cup Series event this weekend in Mexico City after the birth of his son Wednesday.Joe Gibbs Racing reserve driver Ryan Truex will drive the No. 11 Cup car at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Denny Hamlin's family has expanded following the birth of his son this week. --> <!-->The son was the third child for Hamlin and fiancée Jordan Fish."We are happy to announce the birth of our son," Hamlin said in a statement. "Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five."I appreciate everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, our partners, and our fans for the support over the […]
Denny Hamlin to miss NASCAR’s Mexico City race following birth of son
<!--> MEXICO CITY — Denny Hamlin will not race at the inaugural Cup Series event this weekend in Mexico City after the birth of his son Wednesday.Joe Gibbs Racing reserve driver Ryan Truex will drive the No. 11 Cup car at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Denny Hamlin's family has expanded following the birth of his son this week. --> <!-->The son was the third child for Hamlin and fiancée Jordan Fish."We are happy to announce the birth of our son," Hamlin said in a statement. "Everyone is doing well. My main priority is to be here at home for Jordan and our family over the next few days when she is able to go home and we transition to life as a family of five."I appreciate everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, our partners, and our fans for the support over the […]
Be the first to leave a comment