Jon Jones is leaving the door open for a UFC return.
In the newest development in the weird retirement timeline of Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC), the former UFC heavyweight and gentle heavyweight champion, says he has re-entered the promotion’s anti-doping testing pool. The transfer comes just two weeks after Jones, 37, announced he was strolling away from the sport.
In a pair of posts on X (previously Twitter), Jones’ motivation seems to be a potential 2026 UFC occasion at the White House, which president Donald Trump not too long ago teased.
“Fighting at the White House?” Jones wrote on X. In the next post, Jones announced his return to the testing pool.
“Just re-entered the testing pool, that lasted for about two weeks,” Jones wrote. “Figured we’d keep everyone’s options open.”
Returning to the testing pool would enable for a faster return to motion, should Jones ever resolve to combat again. According to the UFC anti-doping coverage, any athlete who gives discover of retirement to the UFC, may not resume competitors until giving the promotion discover of their intent to return and themself obtainable for testing for 180 days. However, the UFC can grant an exemption.
According to the UFC ADP web site, Jones has been examined twice in 2025. “Bones” was examined 5 occasions in 2024 and 13 occasions in 2023.
Jones last fought at UFC 309 in November, where he defended the heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic. With Jones’ retirement, UFC CEO Dana White announced that Tom Aspinall was elevated from interim to undisputed champion. In the days following Jones’ retirement, information broke of his involvement in an alleged hit-and-run incident, in which Jones appeared to implicate himself.
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