Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Jones compared his planned UFC -backkeer to the 'Thrilla in Manilla'.
Jon Jones rocked the MMA world when he announced his retirement by fighting after months of contract discussions to combat Tom Aspinall. Only a few weeks after his retirement, Jones returned the course and the former heavyweight champion has detailed his plans to return to the Octagon.
Jones, perhaps the biggest hunter in the history of UFC, is a return to fighting in the White House next year. The recent announcement by US President Donald Trump for a map in the White House provoked the former two-division champion.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
Jon Jones Heroping The door to potential Tom Aspinall -Matchup while UFC Comeback Talks Swirl
After he has been promoted to undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, Aspinall wants to help turn the division around. A matchup between top candidates Alexander Volkov and Jilton Almeida is said to be in the making for UFC 321, where the winner may be confronted with Aspinall.
Despite Volkov vs. Almeida on the table, Jones is planning to interrupt the heavyweight title photo in an attempt to become two -time heavyweight champions.
In a recent walk-and-talk interview with Tiktoker Joy of Everything, Jones described his comeback plans and compared his return to two of the most iconic boxing fights in history.
“I can't promise anyone, but I have a very strong feeling that I will be on that card,” Jones said.
“I think it will be historical. It will be as big as the 'Thrilla in Manilla', or 'The Rumble in the Jungle', it is there. In essence it can be bigger than that. I would like to take against whom the belt holds at the end of the year.
“I feel that I had an American fight for a championship that night, I would put it all at stake … At the moment I just try to be a good burger.”
Jones defeated Stipe Miocic from TKO on UFC 309 in November, before he entered the UFC contract discussions with the UFC for a long time. Dana White repeatedly guaranteed that Jones vs. Aspinall would come out this year, but after the last comments from Jones, the Dream Matchup will have to wait a little longer to happen.
Jones is also interested in a matchup with former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou, who left the UFC for the PFL in 2023. Crossover fighting interviews between Jones and Ngannou have been cheerful in recent weeks.
The business partner of Conor McGregor confirms UFC Comeback plans after recent interview
But Jones may not be the only top class headliner for the planned UFC event in the White House next year.
Conor McGregor, who has not fought since he injured his leg against Dustin Poirier on UFC 264, will look back at the Octagon next year. Bare Knuckle FC President David Feldman recently claimed that McGregor assured him that his UFC -COMEBACK -PAGERS is legitimate, and he is back in the test pool and works towards a comeback.
Despite McGregor's claims, he did not register any drug test in 2025, as a result of which he may postpone his comeback plans.