Former UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya does not buy what Jones sells.
Jon Jones concluded months of speculation about a potential Tom Aspinall confrontation by announcing his retirement last weekend. Aspinall was immediately promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and will defend against another top candidate, possibly this year possibly Ciryl Gane or Alexander Volkov.
Jones's pension continues to steer shock waves around the sport with many who criticize the UFC legend to continue the Aspinall fight. UFC CEO Dana White remains perplex due to the decision of Jones after months of promising fighting fans that Jones vs. Aspinall appeared.
Despite Jones' pension, Israel Adesanya does not believe that it will take a long time.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Israel Adesanya rejects Jon Jones's pension while predicting the future comeback of legend
Jones and Adesanya shared an up and down relationship during their UFC official period, in the midst of Superfight conversations between the two parties. But the two UFC legends have crushed their years of beef while crossing paths during the UFC 290 Fight week in July 2023.
While Adesanya's past beef with Jones is on the shelf, he believes that the recent social media tirades and retirement of the UFC of heavyweight champion and retirement are all part of a larger plan.
In a recent performance at the Ariel Helwani show, Adesanya explained why he believes that the UFC pension of Jones will be of short duration.
“I think he will come back. It's the drama of it. Someone told me about the tweets. I had a look and I thought,” He's coming back, “Adesanya said about Jones.” What do the children call it, anger-baiting? It works.
“And again, I disagree with the fact of holding the division. Tom defended the belt, that is a defense in his book. Let the division keep moving. There is too much money.
“They offered him $ 20, $ 30 million? Yes, I think he will come back. It will be even bigger by the time he returns because Tom will have had two or three fights and also built up his own legacy.” (H/T Talksport)
Jones raised eyebrows when he accused White and the matchmakers of Liegen with regard to the claim of White that Jones accepted the Aspinall fight before his pension announcement. The claim of Jones comes up with his recent resignation in a short interview with Bloody Elbow when they put pressure on the comments of White.
Regarding Adesanya's attitude on Jones's retirement, he may not be far beyond the beaten track after Jones teased a comeback just a few days after he hung up the gloves.
Jon Jones claims that he is 'not really retired' while he opens the door to potential comeback
When a followers on social media said: “Jon Jones will be back,” the former UFC heavyweight champion seemed open to that possibility. If Jones close his retirement in the coming months, he would probably get an immediate title shot, especially if his former rival Gane wints.
Aspinall earned the interim -heavyweight title of the UFC by spending Sergei Pavlovich on UFC 295. He defended the belt by finishing Curtis Blaydes in the first round of their UFC 304 -Remmatch last July.
Adesanya is expected to return to the Octagon later this year, possibly in a rematch against Sean Strickland. As 2026 approaches, Jones could possibly change his mind to hang the gloves forever.