UFC veteran Jon Jones finally announced his return date to the UFC after a year of inactivity. The fighter will return on November 9 for the pay-per-view at Madison Square Garden.
The reigning heavyweight champion fought his last battle at UFC 285 in 2023, where he faced and defeated Ciryl Gane to win his second belt. Afterwards, the fighter was scheduled to defend his title against challenger and former champion Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 in November. Still, the athlete was forced to withdraw due to a torn pectoral muscle.
UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that Jones’s comeback fight will be against his former rival Miocic. Since his break, the heavyweight champion has returned active and has continued to train. Although he may be inactive at the moment, ‘Bones’ is still considered one of the top heavyweight fighters in the UFC. CEO Dana White has named Jones the best pound-for-pound fighter in the promotion.
“This is the problem with the conversation that we’re having here and why people aren’t giving Jon Jones the respect for pound-for-pound.” White said at his post-UFC 303 press conference. “This f*cking guy destroyed the best heavyweight in the division. [He] easily made it look like nothing. Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world and the greatest fighter f*cking king ever. Period. End of story.”
Although Jones is set to face Miocic, many people wonder if the fight may be his last in the octagon.
“Honestly, it’s hard to say right now,” Jones responded when asked about retiring. “I’m gonna base a lot of that on my next performance. The options are looking crazy right now.”
The bout between Jones and Miocic carries significant weight. It will determine who will face UFC interim heavyweight titleholder Tom Aspinall, which could potentially reshape the UFC heavyweight division.
