Steveson says vacant UFC heavyweight belt could lure Jones out of retirement

Gable Steveson, daily training partner and protégé of Jon Jones, says the newly vacated UFC heavyweight championship could be the catalyst that brings “Bones” back to the Octagon after his retirement last year.

Jones stepped away as heavyweight champion having repeatedly declined a title unification bout with then-interim champion Tom Aspinall. Aspinall was subsequently elevated to undisputed status, but the Englishman has since vacated the belt voluntarily while recovering from multiple eye surgeries — the result of a double-eye poke by Ciryl Gane that ended their October contest as a no-contest in the first round.

With the title now open and rumours circulating that unbeaten Josh Hokit could face Gane for the undisputed crown, Steveson told RMC Sport Combat that Jones may see the situation as an opportunity worth coming out of retirement for.

“I have heard rumbles of [Gane vs.] Josh Hokit,” Steveson said. “That would be a fantastic fight. Josh is another fast guy that can keep up with the pace of Gane. I think Jon would like to come back also. Maybe seeing the belt open up puts another fire in him. Jon’s my training partner every day in Albuquerque. So I have seen what he can still do. I know he can do it at the highest level. Maybe his time will come again and I think it will.”

Despite his retirement, Jones remains on the UFC roster and has been drug-tested three times in 2026, a detail that keeps the door firmly ajar for a return. The UFC has not made any official announcement regarding Jones’ status or a potential comeback fight.

As for Steveson himself, the Olympic gold medallist is scheduled to fight Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on 19 September at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.