Jon Jones, the UFC heavyweight champion and mixed martial arts legend, commented on rumors of a potential move to the boxing ring and a showdown with undisputed world champion Oleksandr Usyk. The American made it clear that the idea of such a fight does not interest him in any format.
Respect for the opponent
Despite ruling out a real fight, the 39-year-old fighter expressed deep respect for the Ukrainian boxer. Jones called Usyk one of the greatest heavyweights in history (GOAT) and acknowledged that he possesses a unique set of skills, including wrestling, which is an important part of his preparation.
"No, I'm not interested. Not at all. Usyk is Usyk. I know he does wrestling, and that's what makes him dominant in the clinch. I could give him some advice," the American noted.
Why the fight is impossible
Jones clearly distinguished between his areas of expertise and Usyk's. According to the UFC champion, while Usyk has the most potential among heavyweight boxers to compete in mixed martial arts, he does not consider him a full-fledged MMA fighter.
"Of all the heavyweight boxers, I think Usyk has the most potential and could be competitive. But I'm not a boxer, and I don't consider Usyk a full-fledged fighter. I think the world knows what would happen if we were locked in a room together, and I'll stop there," Jones added, emphasizing the difference in the athletes' preparation.
Career and future
Jon Jones retains his status as the reigning UFC heavyweight champion, a title he won in 2023 by defeating Ciryl Gane. His last title defense took place on November 16, 2024, against Stipe Miocic.
The situation regarding the fighter's career remains ambiguous. Despite UFC President Dana White's statement in July 2025 about Jones ending his career, the athlete himself stated that he is ready to return to competition.
There are also dark pages in the fighter's biography: in 2016, he was suspended by the United States Anti-Doping Agency for using banned substances, which led to him missing an entire year.
