Combat sports star Jon Jones is reportedly considering a return to fighting, prompted by a significant potential opportunity.
This potential opportunity follows President Donald Trump`s announcement of plans for a UFC event at The White House celebrating Independence Day in 2026. The news generated enthusiastic reactions from several fighters, notably Conor McGregor, who expressed interest in participating.
Now, 37-year-old Jones is hinting at a comeback, despite having announced his retirement in June. The former champion across both heavyweight and light heavyweight divisions posted on social media, asking, “Fighting at The White House?” accompanied by an eye-catching emoji.
Further fueling speculation, Jones later commented that he had “Just re-entered the testing pool,” adding, “that lasted for about two weeks. Figured we’d keep everyone’s options open.”
Jones had previously declared his retirement on June 21st, following a period of relative inactivity. This saw him capture the UFC heavyweight title but compete only twice since 2020. Throughout this time, Jones faced criticism for not facing interim champion Tom Aspinall, who had publicly sought a unification fight. In Jones` absence, Aspinall was elevated to undisputed champion.
Former President Trump would likely be enthusiastic about Jones` potential participation in the event. Trump attended Jones` last fight at UFC 309 in New York, where Jones defended his title against Stipe Miocic. After his victory, Jones imitated one of Trump`s signature dances and then greeted the former president at cageside.
