Jon Jones’ return to the UFC seems uncertain, and Ben Askren isn’t betting on it happening soon. According to Askren, the chances of the MMA legend stepping back into the Octagon anytime soon are much lower than fans might hope.
Less Than 50 Percent Chance of Return
Speaking candidly on Daniel Cormier’s YouTube channel, Askren predicted that if there were betting odds on whether Jon Jones would fight again, they’d be quite low.
“If there were Kalshi odds on does Jon Jones fight again, I believe it would be less than 50 percent,” Askren said. “I think it would be somewhere around 20, 30 percent that he fights again. I would say if there’s odds, I think it’s less than half that he ever fights again.”
Given that Jones hasn’t been booked for any fights and his future in the UFC remains unclear, Askren’s prediction makes sense for those wondering when—or if—Jones will fight again. Fans are left to wonder when they’ll see the fighter in action, with no clear opponent or date on the horizon.
Jones vs. Aspinall: No Immediate Plans
Jones’ most recent fight was in August 2023 at UFC 309, where he successfully defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic. While the fight was a dominant performance, the aftermath mostly revolved around the question of who Jones would face next. While fans were eager to see a bout between Jones and Tom Aspinall, that fight has yet to materialize.
Jones has not shown much interest in fighting Aspinall, with his focus shifting to other potential matchups. One such fight that has caught attention is a potential superfight between Jones and Alex Pereira, the current light heavyweight champion. A fight between the two stars could attract significant attention, but as of now, it seems unclear when or if that will come to fruition.
Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou Fight Seems Unlikely
Another highly discussed potential matchup is between Jon Jones and former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. However, Askren doesn’t think this fight is likely to happen anytime soon.
“That one ain’t happening,” Askren said bluntly. “Obviously, I was outside of the UFC for a long time, and I always had the desire—yes, I would love to fight these guys—but I’m under no delusion that Dana White is going to do some type of co-promote or something because he just doesn’t do that. So the idea that Francis is going to fight Jon, that’s a pipe dream.”
Askren also pointed to Ngannou’s decision to leave the UFC in favor of a lucrative contract with the PFL as a major factor that makes a Jones-Ngannou fight unlikely.
“Francis has already achieved that, so maybe he doesn’t feel the need,” Askren explained. “And Francis, I don’t think he’s lying—I don’t know that it’s debatable—but I believe he made significantly more money doing the boxing fights outside of the UFC. So if you’ve already proven you’re the best in the world, and listen, there was this Jon Jones thing because Jon Jones didn’t fight for a four-year window or whatever, but yeah, you already proved you’re the best in the world, go make a whole bunch more money.”
The Only Way Jones vs. Ngannou Happens
For a fight between Jones and Ngannou to take place, Askren believes that Ngannou would have to return to the UFC.
“If he does want to fight Jon Jones, he’s going to have to come back,” Askren added.
With Ngannou’s current deal allowing him to explore boxing matches outside of the UFC, it seems unlikely that a crossover fight with Jones would happen unless there’s a major shift in the fighters’ circumstances.
In the end, Jones’ future in the UFC remains uncertain, and fans might have to wait quite a while for his next move. Whether that includes a fight with Aspinall, Pereira, or Ngannou is still up in the air, but for now, it looks like fans will have to keep their fingers crossed.
