Jon Jones admits he’s not sure if he’ll retire after defending his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in a comeback fight

At 36 and coming off a series of serious injuries, Jones may be entering the final days of his career. Already known as one of the all-time greats, he may now be set for one final outing against a legend of the sport.

Jon Jones not ruling out retirement after fight with Stipe Miocic

With an undeniable career behind him and an increasing number of miles under his belt, there’s always a chance that Jon Jones could hang up his gloves. And in a recent Q&A with fans on social media, he noted that he’s still undecided on what he’ll do next.

His biggest concern is beating Miocic later in the year, and he will decide his future based on how he feels during the match. He also noted that he has some exciting options available, and he didn’t explicitly say he was retiring.

When a fan specifically asked if he would retire after Miocic, Jones replied: “Honestly, it’s hard to say right now, I’m going to base that largely on my next performance. The options look crazy right now.”

Jon Jones defends Stipe Miocic fight amid ‘withdrawn’ mockery

Ahead of their big fight, which is expected to headline UFC 309 in November at Madison Square Garden, many fans have argued that Miocic is a spent force, feeling he has all but retired after more than three years out of the cage, though Jones disagrees.

“I recently watched an interview Stipe did, he looked incredibly healthy and fit,” Jones wrote in response to a fan on social media last month, after also revealing that he had set the two-time champion as his screensaver on his phone.

“Sounded excited and motivated. The disdain you guys have for Stipe and everything he’s accomplished is beyond me. You fans are hysterical. It’s insane to call the current best heavyweight in our sports history a retired firefighter. I would hate for him to read all this t***.”

Jon Jones thinks fight with Alex Pereira could be the biggest in the UFC

One fight that could keep Jones in the area is a showdown with light heavyweight and former middleweight champion Alex Pereira. Should he beat Miocic and feel confident about a follow-up match, it appears the Brazilian will be given priority over interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

“If Alex P became the heavyweight champion, would you call him the GOAT?” he asked fans in May. “Being back in the gym has changed my mind. That match after Stipe might be the next big step I can take.

“This killer has already defeated so many champions and is already considered a legend by millions of people around the world. The most massive fight the UFC can make. Give Alex a chance to take revenge on all those great Brazilian champions I have defeated.

“It would be really awesome. A guy with a chance to be a three division champion and a goat versus the real goat. Same age, different strengths.

“Nobody can deny that this would be the biggest fight in MMA history. There is absolutely no fight that generates that kind of payout. Marketing would be insane.”

Related Topics