Unexpected Jon Jones UFC Return Rumor Emerges: 4 Ideal Opponents For a Comeback Fight, Including Jos

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Unexpected Jon Jones UFC Return Rumor Emerges: 4 Ideal Opponents For a Comeback Fight, Including Josh Hokit
Brad Penner-Imagn Images

On Wednesday, Jon Jones’s trainer partner and MMA pupil Gable Steveson created new speculation that the UFC icon could make a return to the Octagon in the near future.

“I think Jon would like to come back also, maybe seeing this belt open up put another fire into him,” Steveson told RMC Sport this week. The reason the heavyweight belt has “opened up” is because lineal champion Tom Aspinall vacated the title this week after suffering another eye injury while training for a potential return. Ciryl Gane is the current interim champion.

Jones avoided a matchup with Aspinall for a couple of years despite some big money offers from the UFC. If the Englishman being out of the picture has really stoked “Bones'” interest in a return to the cage at 39 years old, we look at four ideal opponents for the former two-division champion.

Alex Pereira

MMA: UFC Freedom 250 - Alex Pereira v Ciryl Gane
Jun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Alex Pereira (red gloves) fights Ciryl Gane (not pictured) during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

A clash with former middleweight and light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira is the one Jones has wanted for a couple of years. However, the UFC preferred the matchup with Aspinall. The Brazilian wants a championship rematch with Gane, but after being decisively beaten by the Frenchman, as controversial as the win was, he may need to earn another title opportunity

Pereira vs. Jones to decide the No. 1 contender would certainly be interesting if the American is open to a return for a non-title super fight.

Josh Hokit

MMA: UFC Freedom 250 - Josh Hokit v Derrick Lewis
Jun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Josh Hokit walks out prior to his fight against Derrick Lewis during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Hate him or love him, Josh Hokit has made a name for himself in the UFC and is in striking distance of a title opportunity. He really shouldn’t get a matchup with Jones, but there is definitely a segment of fans who would love to see Jones crush the undefeated fighter.

Since he does have a wrestling background and is double tough, Hokit would certainly be a live underdog in a potential matchup.

Ciryl Gane

MMA: UFC Freedom 250 - Alex Pereira v Ciryl Gane
Jun 14, 2026; Washington, D.C., USA; Ciryl Gane (blue gloves) fights Alex Pereira (red gloves) during UFC Freedom 250 at White House South Lawn. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

If Jones does want back in the UFC, the promotion could obviously place him right into a title match with Gane. A bout would lack sizzle because they faced each other two years ago and Jones won in just over two minutes. Nevertheless, a matchup between the current interim champion and the previous champion who never lost does make sense.

Francis Ngannou

MMA: Ngannou vs Lins
May 16, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Francis Ngannou (blue gloves) is introduced before fighting Philipe Lins (red gloves) in a heavyweight bout at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The heavyweight scrap many wanted but never got was Jones moving up from light heavyweight to take on then-heavyweight king Francis Ngannou. However, the fight will go down as another big “what if” in UFC history. Or maybe not.

Yes, UFC CEO Dana White hates Ngannou and has said several times that he will not work with him ever again. But he also loves money, and the company has not had a huge fight with mainstream appeal in a very long time. Ngannou vs. Jones would be that, and it is there for the taking with the Cameroonian now a free agent.