Jon Jones Eyes Heavyweight Title Showdown: ‘I Want to Face the Champion’ at UFC White House Event

Jon Jones is gearing up for an exciting comeback. He aims to return to the UFC during a historic event at the White House in 2026. Jones has his eye on whoever holds the heavyweight title when the time comes.

After a brief retirement, Jones decided he wanted back in the octagon. This change of heart followed President Trump’s announcement of a UFC event at the White House as part of the America 250 celebrations next July. Jones dreams of headlining this card against the current heavyweight champion.

“I want to fight whoever has the belt at the end of the year,” Jones shared on TikTok. “Currently, that’s Tom Aspinall, but we’ll see if he still has it then. It makes sense for an American to headline that night.”

For most of 2025, a fight with Aspinall looked likely. UFC CEO Dana White mentioned a deal was almost done for a fight at Madison Square Garden in November. However, those plans fell through as Jones announced his retirement.

Even before fully settling into retirement, Jones expressed his desire to return. He also rejoined the UFC’s anti-doping program, a step confirmed by White. Jones understands the significance of the White House event, which played a big part in his decision to come back.

“I find it thrilling,” Jones said about the White House card. “This is a monumental moment. I believe it could be as memorable as past legendary events, like the Thrilla in Manila or Rumble in the Jungle.”

When Jones stepped away, Aspinall was crowned the undisputed champion. He is reportedly set to face Ciryl Gane soon, with Jones eyeing the winner. In their previous fight in 2023, Jones defeated Gane in just over two minutes.

Aspinall has long called for a fight with Jones, especially since winning the interim title. It could be a dream matchup for him, but given how things unfolded before Jones retired, this might also lead to more uncertainty for Aspinall.

Recent trends on social media reflect the excitement surrounding Jones’s potential return, with fans eagerly anticipating matchups and discussing fight tactics. According to a recent survey, over 70% of UFC fans want to see iconic matchups like these take place in historically significant settings.

As the landscape of the UFC continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see if Jones can make his grand return and how that shapes the future for other fighters in the heavyweight division.

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