UFC champion Jon Jones retracts retirement rumors, believes there are many ‘crazy’ options right now

Maybe Jon Jones isn’t retiring after all.

The reigning undisputed UFC heavyweight champion of the world has been dropping hints in recent months that he could retire once his anticipated clash with two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic is in the books. However, ‘Bones’ left the door open after responding to a fan who asked the consensus GOAT if his next fight would be his last.

“Honestly it’s hard to say right now, I’m going to base a lot of that on my next performance,” Jones wrote on X. “The options look crazy right now.”

In all likelihood, the truly “crazy” option for Jon Jones is a fight with reigning light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Returning to the Octagon at UFC 303, ‘Poatan’ delivered another highlight-reel finish in the evening’s main event, knocking out Jiri Prochazka in the opening moments of the second round with a perfectly timed headbutt.

During the UFC 303 post-fight press conference, CEO Dana White spoke about the epic finish and seemed much more open to the idea of ​​Pereira moving up to heavyweight, in order to accomplish something no fighter has ever done before: win a UFC championship in three different divisions.

“I know people want to see that,” White said when asked if he would move Pereira up a weight class for the second time in his career.

Jones previously suggested on social media that a fight between him and Pereira would be “the biggest fight in MMA history.” After what happened in Las Vegas on Saturday, he may be right.

If Jon Jones stays to fight Alex Pereira, what does that mean for Tom Aspinall?

Jones has been out of action since tearing his pectoral muscle in October. A few weeks later, the promotion crowned an interim heavyweight champion when Tom Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich 69 seconds into their UFC 295 co-main event at MSG.

Traditionally, the undisputed champion would unite his belt with that of the interim titleholder upon his return. However, this is not such a situation.

Instead, Jones will put his undisputed title on the line against Miocic, as originally planned, making Aspinall the first fighter in more than a decade to defend an interim belt. He will do so at UFC 304 on July 27, when he meets the only man to ever beat him inside the Octagon, Curtis Blaydes.

If Jones and Aspinall can sort things out with Miocic and Blaydes, it should lead to a unification clash between the two top stars. Unfortunately, it feels like that’s the last thing on Jones’ mind, especially after Pereira’s insane performance against Prochazka.

If Jon Jones ultimately pursues a superfight with ‘Poatan’ after Miocic, the question is what that means for Tom Aspinall.