Is Jon Jones Done With Fighting?

Former UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones may have reached its final chapter.

In an assessment of his future, Jones admitted that the toll of elite competition, combined with long-term health concerns, may have pushed him towards walking away from the Octagon for good. The shift in Jones’ perspective follows the leak of a private conversation where he laid out the true extent of his bodily wear and tear. Jones revealed he is battling significant arthritis in his left hip. The condition has deteriorated to the point where he already qualifies for a total hip replacement. He confessed that his most recent training camp was defined by “immense pain” that followed him even into sleep.

Jones’ Struggles

“The UFC knows the extent of my arthritis. They also know that if I were to put it all on the line one last time and endure that level of pain, the reward would have to be something special and something more than a fat payday. For me, that was and is still the White House.

Whether that fight happens or not, my career has been one for the ages and nothing short of legendary. I left a big part of myself in that Octagon, and I’m grateful for every bit of it. And don’t get it twisted, I’ll still kick 99% of your asses out there. Still putting up big numbers under the squat rack, training. Still outworking most of you… just maybe after a proper warm-up and a good stretch,” Jones said

Jones is concerned by the cognitive risks associated with combat sports. He recounted an encounter with a retired fighter who struggled with profound memory loss—to the point of forgetting his own birthday. This has significantly cooled talks of Jones appearing on the UFC White House card. The champion appears more focused on preserving his quality of life than adding one more victory to his resume.

Jones Reacts

“I think I could be done. I’m young enough to compete with some of the best fighters in the world. I am healthy enough to compete with some of the best fighters in the world, but I’ve always been used to competing with the best in the world. It’s a really high standard to uphold.

“So, maybe it’s just about doing it, doing it right, and getting out at a really good time. I don’t want to be one of these fighters that win some and lose some and can’t remember what your name is. I met a fighter a few years ago. He didn’t know when his birthday was. That’s a lot of fighting. I’m far from that and I don’t even want to know what that looks like,” Jones said