Jon Jones insists he isn’t retired, although he won’t be rushing back to the Octagon.
‘Bones’ sent the MMA world into a frenzy earlier this week when he was caught on camera telling his friend that he was ‘done’ with his career.
Jones is still the reigning heavyweight championGettyHours after the footage emerged, the reigning heavyweight champion emitted mixed messages with a post on his Instagram story that suggested otherwise.
The 37-year-old uploaded a video of a dog pinning down another canine, and captioned it: “What I feel like returning to the UFC after some much-needed downtime.”
And now, he has given further indication that he will continue his career after being asked outright by a fan, “How does it feel to be retired?”
“I don’t know if I wanna call it retired,” Jones replied on X, formerly Twitter.
“I feel like I’ll always have an ability to pop out and show ’em.
“I’ve had many breaks throughout my career, my identity outside of fighting is well intact.
“I’m genuinely enjoying life, I’m growing in different ways.”
Jones is currently out in Thailand filming an Ultimate Fighter-style reality TV show, which had pitted him against Nate Diaz as a coach before the Stockton scrapper exited the show following a mass brawl.
The two-weight world champion hasn’t fought since last November when he defeated Stipe Miocic via third-round TKO in the first defence of his 265lbs strap.
The expectation was that Jones would then put his belt on the line against interim champion Tom Aspinall.
He hasn’t fought since his TKO win over Miocic last NovemberGettyHowever, six months on and it still remains unclear whether that fight will ever take place.
UFC president Dana White has repeatedly assured the media that the fight will happen.
But Jones hasn’t shown much interest in taking on the Englishman.
In fact, after his clash with Miocic, Jones suggested he was more interested in squaring off against former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira than Aspinall.
“More than likely not,” Jones said when asked about facing Aspinall. “I feel like Tom Aspinall is – I don’t want to say nobody – but he hasn’t proven anything, he hasn’t done anything.
“I’m not here to gamble on someone else making a name off of me…
Aspinall is the interim heavyweight champion is waiting impatiently to face Jones“If there were to be a fight with a guy that’s still on our UFC roster, that would be not only financially worth it, but legacy worth it, it would be Alex Pereira.
“Alex Pereira and I, we’re both 37 years old. Right now I weigh about 235 [pounds]. I’m an incredibly light heavyweight.
“I think Pereira walks around at 240. I think that fight would go much farther on my legacy than a young man who’s cool today and maybe gone tomorrow.”
Jones also recently gave a cryptic update where he revealed that he has already informed the UFC of his future plans.
“Y’all barkin’ up the wrong tree, I told the UFC my plans a long time ago,” he tweeted.
“I have no clue why they haven’t shared them with you guys yet.”
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