Jon Jones hasn’t quite packed away his gloves — the retired two-weight champ is back training five days a week, coaching Olympic star Gable Steveson, and eyeing a possible return after talk that the UFC will hold a 2026 White House event.
Jon Jones retired in June, but the idea of a high-profile UFC event at the White House in 2026 — reportedly to feature fighters from different countries and even politicians — quickly got him reconsidering whether he’s really done with competition. It’s not clear if he’s angling for a return before that event or waiting specifically for that card.
While the timing of any comeback remains uncertain, Jones has stayed active: he’s training five days a week and helping coach a promising fighter who could be a future star of the sport.
Olympic wrestling champion Gable Steveson opened his MMA account in style, finishing his opponent in 98 seconds, and Jones was on hand as part of Steveson’s coaching team. Jones later praised working with him on Instagram: “Coaching is always rewarding. But let’s be honest, when the athlete is @Gable Steveson, it feels like cheating. Man’s a human cheat code, and we just get to hold the controller.”
Despite Jones’ interest, UFC CEO Dana White has ruled him out as the headliner for the White House event. White’s stance reflects lingering trust issues after Jones withdrew from a previously agreed fight with Tom Aspinall. Although Jones apologized, White said the apology didn’t change his decision and instead named Conor McGregor as his preferred headliner.
White called Jones “the greatest of all time” while arguing that the man who headlines a show must be someone you can absolutely count on. He praised Conor McGregor for being dependable when “the s— hits the fan,” suggesting McGregor’s proven reliability gives him the edge for such a marquee slot.
