The Jon Jones retirement saga seems removed from completed. On the UFC Baku post-fight press convention, Dana White formally introduced Jones’ retirement and upgraded Tom Aspinall to undisputed heavyweight champion. Only a day later, ‘Bones’ himself confirmed the choice, declaring he was placing the gloves down for good. However in true Jones style, the story didn’t finish there. Following Donald Trump’s blockbuster announcement that the UFC would go to the White Home in 2026, the consensus MMA GOAT rapidly backtracked.
Jones revealed he had re-entered the UFC’s drug testing pool and expressed a need to characterize his nation on the historic occasion. He even declared his willingness to face whoever holds the heavyweight belt by then. Nevertheless, White made it clear he was carried out enjoying alongside. The UFC president said brazenly that he now not trusts Jones to headline for the promotion, as an alternative throwing his help behind Conor McGregor. And it appears White isn’t alone. Former middleweight title contender and outspoken analyst Chael Sonnen has echoed the boss’s stance in a daring take.
Chael Sonnen Calls Out Jon Jones for Avoiding Tom Aspinall and Shoots Down Comeback Claims
Jones lately appeared on the MTV Video Music Awards in a complete new cowboy look and spoke about his combating profession. He stated, “I’m not retired, I’m actively coaching 5 days every week and I’m within the UFC’s drug testing pool,” Jones stated on the VMA crimson carpet.
He then added that it’s as much as Dana White to determine if he needs him again contained in the cage or not. “I don’t actually know [about the White House card], it’s sort of out of my management proper now. I’m coaching for the occasion, I’ll be prepared for the occasion. That’s my purpose. However in the end, it’s as much as the boss.”
That is after White claimed that there was a billion-to-one likelihood that Jones would ever return to the Octagon. And that is one thing Chael Sonnen helps, questioning Jones’ intentions to select up the gloves once more as he didn’t combat Aspinall when he needed to in an effort to unify the 265lbs crown.
On a latest episode of his Good Man/Dangerous Man podcast, Chael Sonnen didn’t maintain again when discussing Jon Jones’ newest return saga.
“If Jon says that he’s again and he was by no means injured, he was by no means sick… he simply didn’t wish to combat Tom Aspinall,” Sonnen stated. “That’s the half to me that’s a bit bit bizarre. He’s enjoying this as if that retirement by no means occurred, versus it is a comeback.”
Sonnen went on to query Jones’ true intentions and whether or not he’s thinking about combating Aspinall or not. “For those who’re coming again, what are you coming again for? What’s it that you simply’re coming again to? And is it simply an open slate to confess something? Anybody besides that man, that man over there in England… Anyone however him. Is that how we’re presupposed to interpret this?”
He additionally dismissed Jones’ claims of coaching 5 occasions every week, declaring that nobody has publicly admitted to working with him. This isn’t the primary time Sonnen has gone after Jones. The previous champion hasn’t fought since UFC 309, when he defended the heavyweight title towards a 42-year-old Stipe Miocic, regardless of Tom Aspinall being the clear No. 1 contender.
🚨 Jon Jones says he’s NOT retired and is coaching 5 days every week for the UFC White Home occasion
“I’m not retired, I’m actively coaching 5 days every week and I’m within the UFC’s drug testing pool…
I’m coaching for the [White House] occasion, I’ll be prepared for the occasion… however… pic.twitter.com/dS6r3uBiYZ
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 8, 2025
His drawn-out negotiations for the Aspinall combat, adopted by pulling out on the final second, solely added to the frustration for each followers and White.
Sonnen doubled down throughout an look on The Ariel Helwani Present only a few days in the past. “It’s not going to be anybody that’s been retired,” Sonnen stated.
He added, “Nobody goes to take these superb spots, aside from the individuals who earned them by exhibiting their loyalty again to the business, to the corporate. Jon doesn’t should have a primary occasion spot on the White Home card.”
Whereas Sonnen’s stance could appear harsh, it’s rooted actually. Jones practically made the UFC and followers await a yr, reportedly demanded $30 million, a sum Helwani claims was accepted, however nonetheless pulled out, ruining what White as soon as referred to as “the largest heavyweight bout in UFC historical past.”
Now, the main focus has shifted. The world appears prepared to maneuver on, with Tom Aspinall set to make his first protection of the undisputed heavyweight crown at UFC 321 towards Ciryl Gane in October, lastly bringing stability and momentum again to the division.
