With UFC White House Looming, Jon Jones Informs Re-entering Testing Pool Shortly After Retirement

Ex-UFC star Jon Jones makes shocking U-turn on fight retirement amid news of a White House concept card for this time next year.

With UFC White House Looming, Jon Jones Informs Re-entering Testing Pool Shortly After Retirement

Former UFC heavyweight Jon Jones enters test pool, soon after retirement (Source: X)

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It looks like ex-UFC heavyweight Jon Jones might just have that fight with Tom Aspinall after all! After ‘Bones’ finally retired, Aspinall is now the default undisputed heavyweight. Jones always said there wasn’t enough incentive or boost to his legacy to make this fight. Now, a PPV spot in the White House seems like a pretty good offer.

During Thursday’s Iowa State Fairgrounds media rally, 47th POTUS, Donald Trump, set it all ablaze, saying he’d host a UFC fight at the White House. It’d be for the America 250 Celebration next year, and the consensus on fan forums immediately shifted to a possible ‘Jon Jones’ return fight. Other names have also racked up interest with UFC execs and the CEO “loving” their pitches.

It’d make sense to make about an American vs. a Brit fanfare fight; after all, July 4 was about ratifying a peace deal between the founding fathers and the monarch’s rule of King George III, AKA, their “Independence.” Now, ‘Bones’ has dropped a blockbuster bombshell to cue in his interest in fighting at the White House:

Fighting at the White House?
Just re-entered the testing pool, [so…]that lasted for about two weeks. Figured we’d keep everyone’s options open.

Jon Jones via X (@JonnyBones)

Jones announced his official retirement on June 21; Dana White said he walked away from a done fight, and UFC execs were down with his finances and ask for a PPV Compensatory amount. The then-champ had brought on the tactic of stringing it along for months at an end without any positive reinforcement for a title unifier. To Jon Jones, Aspinall was just ‘the next guy’ and didn’t do much for his legacy.

A White House concept card changes all that! It’d etch his name in the history books like never before. Going back into the official testing pool would let Jones get back into the ring faster, should he ever choose to fight again.

In accordance with the UFC anti-doping policy, there are protocols in place before a fighter can return from retirement. Any athlete who notifies the litigation crew of their intention to retire may not resume competition until providing the promotion with a notification of their intent to return. As well as their willingness to be subject to testing for a period of 180 days.

However, the UFC has the authority to grant an exemption in certain circumstances, and a one-of-one capital fight card counts! The UFC ADP website reports that Jones has undergone two tests in 2025. He also has had five tests in 2024 and 13 times in 2023.

While he never unified with Aspinall, Jones went out in style, conquering perhaps the best-ever UFC heavyweight fighter in Stipe Miocic. The famous MSG Arena saw Jones steamroll Miocic atop the UFC 309 PPV top bill. Trump, who was in attendance, even took a liking to it.

Jon Jones’ manager confirms bombshell tease regarding a return, following his retirement

Jon Jones, 37, was the only remaining US staple who was still a champ on the roster. Sean Strickland had lost his gold, and the only one remaining now is WMMA bantamweight champ Kayla Harrison. Many on the roster have tracked it out to make a White House concept card fight happen. But seemingly, it could very well be ‘Bones’ making the spot on the PPV top bill, with a shocking U-turn to his hanging it up.

Jon Jones might actually end up fighting at the White House
Jon Jones might actually end up fighting at the White House (Source: X)

Both former two-time rival Daniel Cormier and Aspinall had projected Jones would make a return once the unification threat passed out. Which it has, given Aspinall recently told veteran journo Brett Okamoto of ESPN that he was chasing the undisputed gold and not ‘Jon Jones.’

Jones’ decision to not lace up anymore was confirmed by Dana White during the UFC Baku post-fight press conference. But his shocking tease of entering the testing pool was reaffirmed by longtime manager and rep of First Round Management, Malki Kawa.

Kawa reposted Jones’ tease on his IG handle with a zingy smiling emoji and a “Happy Fourth.” Jones shared Kawa’s post on his own IG story, which came equipped with the Thin Lizzy song, ‘The Boys Are Back In Town.‘

However, even though there aren’t that many options for a White House concept bout than Aspinall, Jones never said he settled on it. As a matter of fact, when asked at the UFC-Saudi GEA-sanctioned New York City “Canelo vs. Crawford” presser, the UFC boss said it was a done deal. In a now-defunct tweet, Jon Jones piled on it “was never done.”

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