Jon Jones has not fought since defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in 2024 to retain the UFC heavyweight title. He has remained retired despite continued calls for a comeback.
Most recently, boxing superstar Oleksandr Usyk named Jones as a potential opponent for his final professional fight. However, the former UFC champion has now delivered a reality check by rejecting the proposed boxing super fight.
Usyk has built one of boxing’s greatest careers, defeating elite opponents including Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. The Ukrainian has held the undisputed cruiserweight championship and later captured the WBA, WBC, WBO, IBF, and Ring heavyweight titles. In his most recent outing, Usyk defeated Rico Verhoeven by controversial stoppage, adding another high-profile victory before pursuing a final fight.
At 39, Usyk remains undefeated and has repeatedly hinted that retirement is near. He recently vacated his heavyweight titles to avoid holding up the division while pursuing one final fight. Usyk then named Jones as a potential crossover opponent. Jones acknowledged the former heavyweight champion’s boxing achievements but rejected the idea of handicapping himself under boxing rules alone.
Usyk is Usyk, man, he is one of the absolute GOATs of heavyweight boxing. If he would like to test his total combat skills, I would oblige in that. But to handicap myself by only using my hands is not the world that I come from. So out of all the heavyweight boxers, I do see Usyk as having the highest potential of making it competitive but I am no boxer. I don’t really consider Usyk to be a complete fighter. I think the world knows what would happen if we were locked in the same room.
Jon Jones via Ring Magazine
Usyk did not identify Jones as his only potential farewell opponent. The undefeated star has also targeted a showdown with knockout artist Deontay Wilder as he evaluates his final options. Wilder enters the discussion after extending his winning momentum with a win over Derek Chisora in his most recent outing.
Jones’ comments also highlighted Usyk’s experience beyond boxing. The 39-year-old has trained in multiple martial arts and previously credited MMA training with improving his boxing mechanics. That background makes him one of the few elite boxers with experience outside the squared circle.
While Usyk is pursuing potential fights against Jones and Wilder, his latest victory over Verhoeven remains controversial. The stoppage after many within the combat sports community argued the former GLORY kickboxing champion was still capable of continuing.
Jones has remained out of competition since retaining the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 309. Although he recently said he is ready to return, the UFC legend also revealed he has been .However, Jones has repeatedly insisted that it is a long-standing issue that will not affect his performance.
Whether Jon Jones returns to competition remains uncertain, while Oleksandr Usyk continues searching for the ideal opponent for his farewell fight. For now, the proposed crossover remains only a possibility, with both stars focused on different paths before any potential matchup can become a reality.
Jon Jones remains one of the leading contenders for the title of MMA’s greatest fighter because of his dominant career and championship legacy. However, his life outside the Octagon has often been overshadowed by legal troubles and controversies throughout his illustrious career.
Despite his success inside the Octagon, Jones has faced several legal issues throughout his career. He was arrested for a DUI in 2012 after crashing his vehicle in New Mexico. He also faced legal trouble after a hit-and-run incident in 2015 and an assault allegation in 2021 involving a security officer in Las Vegas.
Jones has previously been vocal about his struggles with alcohol, acknowledging that drinking often contributed to problems throughout his life. The former two-division UFC champion recently revealed that partying and alcohol limited his true potential during his career.
All my setbacks in life have been directly related to alcohol. I feel like things could’ve been even higher if I never got into partying… I had like 5 or 6 years of inactivity right in the middle of my career.
Jon Jones via Ring Magazine
‘Bones’ has since shifted his focus toward coaching and new opportunities outside competition. He is currently working with Gable Steveson and has also .Despite his past struggles, Jon Jones continues to explore different roles within combat sports.