Jon Jones’ long-teased return to the Octagon looks more real than ever, with a fresh update from his own protégé adding fuel to the fire.
Gable Steveson on Jon Jones’ Comeback
“I think Jon would like to come back also. Maybe seeing this belt open up put another fire into him. I’ve seen what [Jon] can still do, and I know he can do it at the highest level. Maybe his time will come again, and I think it will,” Gable Steveson said via RMC Sport Combat.
The Pieces Falling Into Place For Jon Jones
Gable Steveson’s comments come amid a string of developments suggesting Jon Jones is quietly building toward a return. According to updated UFC anti-doping records, Jones has already been tested three times in 2026, keeping him within the required testing pool to remain eligible to compete. He’s also addressed the hip arthritis that derailed his previous comeback attempt, revealing he received stem cell therapy for the condition and has said he’s now feeling better physically than he has in some time.
Adding to the timing, Tom Aspinall recently vacated the UFC heavyweight title due to ongoing eye complications, due to which Ciryl Gane, whom Jones has beaten before, is now the champion. That lines up with Stevenson’s suggestion that seeing the belt in Gane’s hands has reignited something in Jones, as the latter knows the French fighter is easy to dethrone.
A Complicated Road Back
Jon Jones’ path to this point hasn’t been straightforward. He retired in 2025 rather than face then-interim champion Tom Aspinall, then briefly re-entered the testing pool when the UFC Freedom 250 card was announced, only to step back again after alleging the promotion lowballed him for a fight with Alex Pereira. Dana White has maintained that Jones has no real intention of returning, while longtime rival Daniel Cormier has voiced similar skepticism.
Despite the doubters, Jones has kept the door open, including a previously reported meeting with UFC CBO Hunter Campbell to discuss his future. With Steveson now publicly backing the idea of “one more run,” speculation around Jones’ return is only intensifying.
About The Author
