Jon Jones doesn’t have a struggle on the horizon and Ben Askren is warning followers to not get their hopes up.
It’s solely been three months since Jones most lately competed in the primary occasion of UFC 309, a headlining bout that noticed him lastly defend his heavyweight title in opposition to Stipe Miocic to finish a long-awaited reserving few followers have been truly asking for. Unsurprisingly, Jones made brief work of the 42-year-old Miocic, who instantly retired afterward.
A lot of the chatter previous and following UFC 309 swirled across the query of why Jones was not as an alternative going through interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. That bout seems no nearer to coming to fruition and Askren is prepared to wager that no Jones bouts are forthcoming, interval.
“If there have been Kalshi odds on does Jon Jones struggle once more, I imagine it might be lower than 50 p.c,” Askren mentioned, talking on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube. “I feel it might be lower than 50 p.c, I feel it might be someplace round 20, 30 p.c that he fights once more.”
“I’d say if there’s odds, I feel it’s lower than half that he ever fights once more,” he reiterated.
Although Jones has expressed little curiosity in unifying the heavyweight titles with Aspinall, he has mentioned on a number of events he’s prepared to entertain a superfight with fellow UFC champion Alex Pereira, at the moment atop the sunshine heavyweight division that Jones beforehand dominated for the higher a part of a decade. Pereira has turn into one of many promotion’s largest stars and a matchup with Jones would undoubtedly generate widespread curiosity.
The opposite fighter regularly talked about together with Jones is former UFC heavyweight champion and present PFL star Francis Ngannou. Each mentioned combating one another previously, however since they’re now with totally different promotions, the potential for the 2 ever combating is distant.
“That one ain’t taking place,” Askren mentioned. “Clearly, I used to be exterior of the UFC for a very long time and I all the time had the will, sure I’d like to struggle these guys, however I’m beneath no delusion that Dana White goes to do some sort of co-promote or one thing as a result of he simply doesn’t do this. So the concept that Francis goes to struggle Jon, that’s a pipe dream.”
One more reason Askren doesn’t count on Ngannou to face Jones is that he’d should return to the UFC to do it, and he probably isn’t motivated to take action after leaving because the promotion’s champion in 2023 after which signing a profitable cope with PFL.
“The one factor I wished to do, I wished to attempt to be one of the best on this planet and I knew I couldn’t do this with out combating the suitable folks,” Askren mentioned. “Francis has already achieved that, so possibly he doesn’t really feel the necessity and Francis, I don’t assume he’s mendacity, I don’t know that it’s debatable, however I imagine he made considerably more cash doing the boxing fights exterior of the UFC.
“So should you’ve already confirmed you’re one of the best on this planet and hear, there was this Jon Jones factor as a result of Jon Jones didn’t struggle for a four-year window or no matter, however yeah, you already proved you’re one of the best on this planet, go make an entire bunch more cash. I feel that’s nice, but when he does wish to struggle Jon Jones he’s going to have to return again.”
FIGHTS. UFC CEO Dana White made some massive bulletins Wednesday night, take a look at these out beneath:
Standoff. Aaron Pico gives the PFL an ultimatum.
Focus. Is Alex Pereira globe-trotting too much ahead of his UFC 313 title struggle with Magomed Ankalaev?
Clear. Kade Ruotolo needs to see the grappling world clean up its act.
Ultimate. Anthony Smith explains his surprise at Zhang Mingyang being his remaining opponent and the way he’s feeling forward of retirement.
Glad Trails. The Final Fighter: Brazil 3 winner Warlley Alves parts ways with UFC after a 10-year run.
Response to Thursday’s massive bulletins.
MMA Preventing’s Damon Martin chats with PFL fighter—for now—Aaron Pico and grappling ace Kade Ruotolo.
Beterbiev-Bivol 2 open exercises.
Canon occasions.
Bo is aware of.
No Bets Barred. Jed Meshew is joined as soon as once more by the Motion Community’s Billy Ward carry you one of the best bets for a UFC Seattle card headlined by Henry Cejudo vs. Song Yadong, a bout that would decide the way forward for the previous two-division champion.
The definitive fight sports activities schedule.
Life is loopy, man.
Get effectively, quickly.
Harsh.
Clarification.
Hiya! My interview with @mmaplanet_twit who’s a really severe journalist occurred 11 days in the past and there actually was a miscommunication. The official UFC provide, as an odd coincidence, solely got here a pair hours in the past. There have been plenty of transferring items and I’ll discuss all of it quickly!
— Patricio Pitbull (@PatricioPitbull) February 20, 2025
I imply, for this reason the GFL exists, proper?
Friendship?
We’re slowly burying the hatchet. Nice dude, simply had some variations right here and there. Legend. First poll Corridor of Famer. https://t.co/ylnJgQ4E54
— Michael Chandler (@MikeChandlerMMA) February 19, 2025
They haven’t booked Ibo Aslan vs. Ivan Erslan but, however I’ll accept…
Leon Edwards (22-4, 1 NC) vs. Sean Brady (17-1); UFC London, March 22
Alexander Volkanovski (26-4) vs. Diego Lopes (26-6); UFC 314, April 12
Michael Chandler (23-9) vs. Paddy Pimblett (22-3); UFC 314, April 12
Yair Rodriguez (19-5, 1 NC) vs. Patricio Pitbull (36-7); UFC 314, April 12
Geoff Neal (16-6) vs. Carlos Prates (21-6); UFC 314, April 12
Dan Ige (18-9) vs. Sean Woodson (13-1-1); UFC 314, April 12
Darren Elkins (29-11) vs. Julian Erosa (30-11); UFC 314, April 12
Sedriques Dumas (10-2) vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk (19-9, 1 NC); UFC 314, April 12
Sumudaerji (16-7) vs. Mitch Raposo (9-2); UFC 314, April 12
Alberto Montes (11-1) vs. Roberto Romero (8-4-1); UFC 314, April 12
Belal Muhammad (24-3, 1 NC) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (17-2); UFC 315, Could 10
Valentina Shevchenko (24-4-1) vs. Manon Fiorot (12-1); UFC 315, Could 10
Gilbert Burns (22-8) vs. Michael Morales (17-0); UFC 315, Could 10
Jon Jones has accomplished all of it and is possibly the best MMA fighter any of us has ever seen. The larger concern concerning his legacy at this level is just not whether or not he fights once more, however whether or not anybody will care if he doesn’t.
Let’s take it to the polls.
Additionally, tell us beneath which newly introduced struggle you’re most enthusiastic about!
Ballot
On a scale of 1-5, how a lot do you care if Jon Jones fights once more?
In case you discover one thing you’d wish to see within the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKlee or @JedKMeshew on Twitter and tell us about it. Additionally, observe MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and like us on Facebook.
