Jon Jones’ Return Linked To Aspinall’s Success

According to former UFC fighter and ex-teammate of Jon Jones , Keith Jardine, a potential comeback for Jones might hinge on the success of the current heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall.

Jones retired in June after beating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November at UFC 309, putting an end to any hopes of an Aspinall fight. Tom was subsequently elevated to the full champion, as he makes his first defense against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 on October 25. However, Jones has increased the chances of the fight happening, having recently reentered the testing pool. While Dana White has dismissed the chances of Jones fighting on the July 4, 2026, White House card, Jones is still optimistic it can happen. Jardine felt Bones is waiting for Aspinall to rack up a few more wins.

“So, I think; I haven’t talked to Jon in a long time. I have no idea what he’s doing, but I think he’s waiting till [Tom] Aspinall wins a few fights and becomes more of a known quantity at heavyweight. Where he’s like he’s the best of this era and all that. Maybe he’ll come back then and fight him because now he’ll have something to prove by fighting him. Now, if he beats him, what? Like it’ll be just what? Like, oh, he won another fight. Who’s the next guy? There’s nothing really in it for him,” Jardine said 

Reasoning

Jones’ primary motivation behind this would be for legacy. If Aspinall were to go on a tear, defending his title against top contenders like Ciryl Gane, Curtis Blaydes, or Sergei Pavlovich, he would establish himself as the dominant force of the new heavyweight era. A victory for Jones in that scenario would be even bigger.

Another key factor is the financial incentive. A fight against a highly-decorated, proven heavyweight champion like Aspinall would be a massive pay-per-view draw. If Aspinall successfully defends his title a few more times and solidifies his place as a superstar, the matchup against Jones would be one of the biggest in UFC history.

Jones may be looking to mitigate risk. By waiting for Aspinall to face other top contenders, Jones can gain more insight into Aspinall’s weaknesses and strengths. He can watch how Aspinall performs under the pressure of multiple title defenses, allowing him to better formulate a game plan, as fans wait to see if the fight gets made.