Jon Jones has made several dramatic returns to the UFC during his 16-year spell in the promotion.
And this leads many MMA fans to believe there’s still time for him to say yes to Brit Tom Aspinall, who, as the interim champion, has been calling to unify the UFC heavyweight division against its current king for months now to no avail.
Jones vs Aspinall has never been further away from happening at this stageGettyBack in 2023, ‘Bones’ really had no other choice to make his UFC return following a three-year layoff.
He had defended his light heavyweight strap for a record-breaking 12th time against Dominick Reyes in 2020, before vacating the strap with a move up to heavyweight in mind.
As well as this, the UFC was struggling to reach a deal with heavyweight champion at the time Francis Ngannou, who wound up leaving the promotion on a sour note following multiple contract disputes.
Ngannou then became a free agent at the beginning of 2023, leaving room for just one move from UFC President and CEO Dana White.
“Both incredibly talented guys,” White said during a UFC Fight Night post-fight press conference in January 2023, announcing that Ngannou had been released from the promotion and Jones would fight Ciryl Gane for the Cameroonian’s old title.
“Ciryl Gane is a heavyweight who moves like a middleweight,” White added.
“He’s got a really well-rounded game and Jon Jones is the best to ever do it in my opinion.
“So, you couldn’t ask for a better fight.”
White had been negotiating with Ngannou for more than two years.
“We offered Francis a deal that would’ve made him the highest paid heavyweight in the history of the company,” White added, explaining the situation.
GettyWhite released Ngannou in 2023 and announced that Jones would fight Gane for the belt[/caption]“More than [Brock] Lesnar, more than anybody, and he turned the deal down.”
Ngannou went on to sign for rival MMA promotion the PFL, becoming their heavyweight champion in 2022 after flattening Renan Ferreira in the first round of their October battle in Saudi Arabia.
However, ‘The Predator’ hasn’t fought since, having accepted lucrative offers to step into the squared circle with British boxing legends Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
It has been reported that Ngannou will stay in the boxing world for now before he makes a MMA return, with names like Deontay Wilder emerging as potential opponents.
Jones, meanwhile, secured a first-round submission against Gane in the main event of UFC 285 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas to become the new heavyweight champion.
The former two-time light heavyweight champion suffered an early low blow before dragging Gane to the canvas and beginning to work on the ground.
Jones boasts one of the best resumes in the UFCJust after two minutes, ‘Bones’ got the tap from the Frenchman to become a two-weight UFC champion and cement his name as one of the greatest of all-time following years of debate.
“I’m so excited,” he said after the bout.
“I’ve been working on this for a long time. A lot of people thought I was never coming back but I’ve been faithful to my goal and mission.”
Following an injury, Jones’ next Octagon appearance was 20 months later at UFC 309 in November, where he stopped Stipe Miocic with a brutal spinning back kick to retain the strap.
He hasn’t fought since, opting for trips to Thailand, reality TV shows, and appearing at different promotions as better methods to spend his time as the UFC heavyweight champion.
This has left 32-year-old interim champion Aspinall frustrated, but the Englishman has now seemingly moved on from seeking a fight with Jones and is now more likely to fight Gane for the undisputed title next.
Aspinall has declared that Jones is retired, with the American’s return to the Octagon more unlikely than ever.
He’s defied the odds several times before during his legendary MMA career, but Jones’ time could now be up.
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