UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones and his representatives have begun a dialogue with Dana White and the matchmakers about a return to the cage in 2025.
Jon Jones broke his silence in one of his first interviews since defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Arguably the greatest UFC fighter of all time, Jones successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title against Miocic in his recent return. Before one of his most dominant performances, Jones underwent a long recovery due to an injury suffered after winning the then-vacant title the previous year.
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
After dismantling Miocic, Jones built on his previous retirement teases and pitched a potential return in 2025. A fight with interim UFC heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall is the likely booking for a return fight, although he has also expressed interest in a showdown with Alex Pereira.
Jones and the UFC are meeting at the negotiating table in hopes of reaching an agreement on a new contract for the heavyweight champion's next fight. Both sides will be hoping not to repeat what happened in 2021 when Jones and White couldn't agree on Deontay Wilder-level money.
Fight fans who were hoping Jones would return for at least one more fight got some promising news this weekend.
Jon Jones and the UFC began contract talks after UFC 309
In a recent interview with The Schmo, Jones provided an update on the status of his ongoing discussions with the UFC brass.
“Right now the UFC and I are in discussions to see what happens next. I'm back in the gym, I'm training, I feel really great. The support of the team, they are right behind me, and we will be ready for any opportunity that comes our way,” said Jones.
“There is one [money figure]but I'm not going to talk about that publicly. We'll just have to wait and see. I will more than likely participate in 2025.”
Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images
While White and the UFC want the Jones-Aspinall fight to work, Jones has taken a dismissive stance on the bout. Ahead of UFC 309, Jones questioned why he had to face Aspinall and said he refused to do business with the British star.
UFC commentator Jon Anik recently predicted that Jones will ask for a salary somewhere between $20 and 25 million. But, as Jones said above, the desired figure won't be made available to the public until the talks are completed.
Jon Jones is 'more than likely' planning to return in 2025
Jones' optimism means this could be one of the biggest fights on the UFC's 2025 slate. Aspinall earned the interim heavyweight title last year by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich and defended it against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Jones' former foe Francis Ngannou defended the heavyweight champion against calls for him to fight Aspinall to cement his legacy. Before making the full-time move to heavyweight in 2020, Jones enjoyed several distinguished runs as the UFC light heavyweight king.
As 2024 draws to a close, Jones vs. Aspinall is closer to making it happen, and the ongoing negotiation talks will remain a hot topic in the coming weeks.
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