Jon Jones wants out of retirement for a shot at the UFC heavyweight title – while the American superstar’s undefeated protégé also expects to be eyeing off the same belt within the next year.
On the eve of his latest showdown at UFC 331 this Sunday, hyped US prospect Gable Steveson has told how he and Jones have already discussed a potential return to the Octagon for the man widely considered the sport’s GOAT.
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The news comes only days after Tom Aspinall announced he was vacating the UFC heavyweight strap after suffering yet another eye injury in training.
Immediately after Aspinall’s announcement, Jones spent some time taking cracks at the Englishman on social media – even though he has previously been accused of ducking the champ, and after being offered no less than a US$30 million purse to fight.
While Jones eventually announced his retirement while still on top – and with Aspinall the interim champ – the undeniable bad blood between the pair has continued.
And now this week Steveson has added more fuel to the fire by confirming, with Aspinall again sidelined, and Ciryl Gane being promoted from interim to undisputed champ, Jones is considering a comeback.
Jones is also working closely with Steveson on his own rise in the heavyweight division.
Speaking at a media day for UFC 331, the rising star confirmed that he and Jones have spoken about a possible comeback, and the former two-division UFC champion is interested.
“I called Jon today, and he’s honored to have the opportunity to maybe come back,” Steveson said. “He’s always had gold around his waist. It’s cool to have him in my corner. We train every day, one-on-one together.
“And I hope Tom gets well.
“I hope the eye gets healed up the way it should, and maybe he’ll step in the cage again; I’m not sure. That’s going to be up to him.
“I’ve always been a Tom Aspinall fan. I think he’s an athletic gift from God that came down and struck the division, but now it’s time to move on and get the guys with the next gift to step up.”
Jones and Aspinall have a rivalry that stretches for years.
However, when the pair seemed destined to fight, ‘Bones’ first fought an aging Stipe Miocic before then retiring last year.
Then earlier this year when the blockbuster White House card was announced for June, Jones attempted to unretire for a shot on the lawn – which never eventuated.
Mighty Mouse previews Van vs Pantoja 2 | 10:04
It remains unknown if UFC boss Dana White would even welcome Jones back for a rematch with Gane – who in 2023 he submitted within a round to claim the vacant UFC belt.
Should Jones not return, Steveson says Josh Hokit should get the first shot at Gane.
“I would love — Josh Hokit would be cool to get the opportunity,” Steveson said.
“You guys know that Josh is a guy that talks a mile a minute; he puts himself on the map, so it would be nice for him to get an opportunity and see what he can do. I think he can do great, but I think Ciryl Gane is our best heavyweight right now. He’s fantastic, and maybe someone will step up to the plate in a short time, soon, and we’ll see.”
Steveson, meanwhile, says his own title shot could arrive within the next year.
The Olympic gold medallist fights Sean Sharaf on the main card of UFC 331, which will be shown live on Main Event and Kayo Sports this Sunday.
“I think if I keep training hard, and I keep staying at the pace that I am, I think in the next year and a half or year, that I could get to that spot,” Steveson said.
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“Obviously, I’ve just got to make sure that we’re in the right mindset to make that leap and to get to that competition. But I feel like I’ve been a competitor my whole life; I wrestled the best of the best; I went against the best of the best in every single sport, so it ain’t nothing to go against the next big thing, and I feel like I can be that.”
Meanwhile, Jones has also been caught up this week in a social media spat with Islam Makhachev, following comments from the UFC welterweight champ regarding the retired star’s past doping cases.
Everything started when Makhachev told Red Corner MMA that Jones’ famed winning streak wasn’t “valid” because of two doping positives.
One of those instances was against Makhachev’s longtime friend, and now UFC commentator, Daniel Cormier. On that occasion Jones’ win was overturned to no-contest and he was stripped of light heavyweight gold.
“I’m not denying Jon Jones is one of the greatest athletes in history,” Makhachev said. “But he was caught doping twice, and I think that’s why his streak isn’t considered valid.
“He went into a fight while on PEDs and won. That’s where a new count should have started.”
Tellingly, the comments come after Makhachev earned his 17th straight win last month, when he defended his title against Ian Machado Garry.
The win saw him break former middleweight champion Anderson Silva’s previous UFC record of 16 consecutive victories.
However Jones quickly returned serve on the 2017 incident, which saw him fined and suspended for 15 months, reminding how an independent arbitrator later stated that he felt Jones unknowingly ingested the substance, and it didn’t enhance his performance.
In his reply, Jones write: “Let’s start this week by dispelling rumors that have been spread by people chasing me:
“If you believe USADA for finding a pico gram in my system, then you must believe USADA when they say “It was not found to be PERFORMANCE ENHANCING or INTENTIONAL”. You can’t have it both ways.
“Last I checked, my hand got raised every time I was in the octagon since any of you can remember.
“Your own coach said I was “a gift from God”. Let’s not forget you’ve been ko’d, flat lined, went night night.”
Jones then took a shot at Cormier, continuing: “DC I kicked you in the head LOL keep telling yourself it was steroids. Whatever you need to tell yourselves to sleep better at night, go for it. Keep chasing, it’s lonely at the top, Islam hopefully I’ll see you up here one day.”
Makhachev then went again, saying: “Jon, I’m not trying to diminish your achievements in any way. But your whole life seems to be tied to breaking the rules one way or another, and somehow, you’re never the one to be blamed.”