Jon Jones keen on UFC return after Tom Aspinall relinquished Heavyweight Title, claims Gable Steveson

Jon Jones could be considering another UFC comeback after Tom Aspinall’s exit

Jon Jones could have another reason to consider a UFC return following Tom Aspinall’s decision to vacate the heavyweight championship. According to Jones’ teammate Gable Steveson, the opening at the top of the division may have renewed the former champion’s desire to compete.

The heavyweight picture changed dramatically earlier this week when Aspinall relinquished the title because of ongoing eye problems. The Brit had been scheduled to rematch Ciryl Gane at UFC 334, but another training injury left his return timeline uncertain.

Aspinall’s decision also drew a reaction from Jon Jones, who questioned the legitimacy of his rival’s injury. Jones had previously retired after repeatedly avoiding a matchup with Aspinall, who was interim champion at the time.

Gable Steveson says the vacant title has motivated Jon Jones

Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall were expected to eventually meet when Jones held the heavyweight championship, and Aspinall was the interim titleholder. However, the matchup never materialized, despite reports that the UFC offered Jones $30 million to take the fight.

Jon Jones ultimately retired from competition, allowing Tom Aspinall to be elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion. Jones returned to the headlines again after Aspinall vacated the title, and Steveson believes the situation could have reignited his teammate’s competitive fire.

“I think Ciryl Gane deserves (the undisputed title) he’s a fantastic fighter and he’s a guy that goes out there and he’s beating everybody besides the infinity stones of fighting, (Francis) Ngannou and Jon,” Steveson told RMC Sport Combat.

Steveson then suggested that Jon Jones could once again be interested in competing, pointing specifically to the heavyweight championship becoming available.

“I think Jon would like to come back also, maybe seeing this belt open up put another fire into him. Jon’s my training partner everyday in Albuquerque so I’ve seen what he can still do and I know he can do it at the highest level, and maybe his time will come again and I think it will,” Steveson added.

Jon Jones taunts Tom Aspinall after heavyweight title exit

Jon Jones has seemingly taken satisfaction from Aspinall’s decision to vacate the UFC heavyweight championship. The situation carries added context because Jones previously vacated the same title after the UFC’s long-running attempt to book him against Aspinall.

Jones had held onto the championship while Aspinall served as interim champion, with the two never meeting inside the Octagon. Jones later admitted that he turned down a reported $30 million offer to fight the Englishman before eventually retiring and vacating the belt.

After Aspinall announced his decision, Jones responded to a post from The Honest Jones Fan on X. The user claimed Aspinall’s injury was not serious and suggested that he knew he could not defeat Ciryl Gane, writing.

“This confirms that his ‘injury’ wasn’t that big of a deal and the UFC was confident that he could defend his belt in due course. Aspinall however knows he can’t beat Ciryl Gane so took the easy way out. Absolutely shameless!”

Jones’ response added another chapter to the long-running tension between the former heavyweight champions. Aspinall has maintained that his eye problems are genuine and that he vacated the championship because he could not provide a clear timeline for his return.

Ciryl Gane now stands at the center of the heavyweight division

With Aspinall vacating the championship, Ciryl Gane is set to become the undisputed heavyweight champion, as he holds the interim belt. His next title defense is already attracting potential challengers.

Josh Hokit has called for a shot at the championship, while Alex Pereira has also continued to pursue a heavyweight title opportunity. UFC legend Chris Weidman has suggested that Pereira is currently the frontrunner to face Gane, potentially setting up a rematch between the two fighters.

For Jon Jones, however, a return remains uncertain. Steveson’s comments provide insight into what his teammate believes could happen, but there has been no confirmation that the former two-division champion is officially preparing for a UFC comeback.

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