Jon Jones hints at UFC return after training camp: 'I'm moving like I never left'

Jon Jones has refused to rule out a return to the UFC octagon, saying he is moving as well as ever after serving as the primary training partner for heavyweight debutant Gable Steveson ahead of UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11.

“Never say never,” Jones wrote on social media when asked about fighting again. “Right now we are finishing up Gable’s training camp. He’s looking extraordinary. I’ve been his main training partner, and I’m moving like I never left. Stem cells must be working.”

Jones, who turns 39 in July and holds a professional record of 28-1 with one no-contest, has been away from competition since his third-round knockout of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden in November 2024. That victory cemented his status as a two-division champion, having previously held the light heavyweight title before moving up to claim the heavyweight belt.

The return to full fitness is notable given the physical toll Jones disclosed earlier this year. He revealed he had developed “severe arthritis” and already qualified for a hip replacement after decades of wrestling and MMA training, adding that he “went to bed in so much pain” throughout the Miocic camp. He credits ongoing stem cell treatment for his recovery.

Jones had also publicly campaigned for a heavyweight showdown with Alex Pereira at the UFC’s White House card earlier this month, though that opportunity did not materialise — Pereira instead faced Ciryl Gane, losing the light heavyweight title to the Frenchman.

Whether Jones ultimately pursues another fight remains unclear, but his comments suggest the former pound-for-pound king is in better physical condition than he has indicated in recent months. Steveson’s debut against Elisha Ellison at UFC 329 will be the immediate focus, with Jones in his corner.