Jon Jones says he isn’t retired but admits that right now, fighting is not among his top priorities.
The UFC heavyweight champion has competed just twice in the cage since early 2020, last being seen in November of last year where he scored the first defence of his world title with a comprehensive TKO win over Stipe Miocic.
The interim champion, Tom Aspinall, has fought nine times throughout that same timespan, winning a version of the world title in November 2023 and subsequently defended it against perennial contender Curtis Blaydes. Since then, though, Aspinall has maintained that his next fight must be for the undisputed championship — a bargain that, so far, Jones has not agreed to.
And speaking on the Full Send podcast recently, as noted by MMA Fighting, Jones confirmed that competing in the cage just isn’t something he’s interested in at the moment.
“I don’t want to say that I’m retired because fighting’s in my blood,” Jones said. “Right now, I could really care less about fighting. I’ve been doing it my whole life at a very high level and when the itch comes back — and if it comes back — then I’ll do it with my whole heart, do it to the best of my abilities.
“But right now, I look around and realise what’s true, what’s real. I see the way people look at me and the way I make people feel and it’s an extraordinary thing. It’s a true blessing. Now my job is to serve that, give that to my fans, be reachable, touchable. Let them know what I have inside. That’s who I am right now. I’ve punched and kicked enough people.”
As for Aspinall, Jones admitted that the Englishman is extremely talented but warned him about chasing the world championship too closely.
“I think he’s awesome,” Jones said of his rival. “I think he should go on and have a wonderful career. I don’t think he needs me. I think when want something bad enough and if you get it, it can be the worst thing that ever happened to you.”
Be that as it may, Jones also admitted that he’s having fun in his role as the person appearing to obstruct what Dana White referred to as the ‘biggest’ possible fight in UFC heavyweight history.
“I love being the ultimate troll,” Jones said. “I’m in a spot right now where I’m really enjoying the fruits of my labor. All the hard work that I put in. He’s not in a position to excite me. It’s just the truth.
“Because if I whoop his ass, it’s going to be the next guy,” Jones explained. “There’s going to be a whole new fan base of somebody who everybody believes in. I’ve done this my whole adult life. I remember ‘Rampage’ fans years ago, Rashad fans and Lyoto fans, I’ve literally replayed this story so many times in my life.”
