Jon
Jones’ protégé, Gable
Steveson, believes the former
Ultimate Fighting Championship double champ could return to
action.

Jones retired last year as the heavyweight champion after
repeatedly stalling on a title unification bout with then-interim
champ Tom
Aspinall. Aspinall was then promoted to undisputed status after
Jones’ retirement. However, the Englishman recently vacated the
belt, which Steveson believes could pave the way for Jones’ Octagon
return.

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Gable Steveson believes the open UFC heavyweight title picture
could tempt Jon Jones out of retirement

Aspinall put his title on the line against Ciryl Gane
last October. The fight ended in an anticlimactic no-contest after
a double-eye poke by Gane in the first round left Aspinall unable
to continue. Aspinall has since been inactive as he recovers from
multiple eye surgeries. He recently vacated the heavyweight title
of his own accord.

Amid rumors linking unbeaten Josh Hokit
to fighting Gane for the undisputed title, Steveson believes Jones
could be lured to return to action by the heavyweight title picture
opening up. Being Jones’ regular training partner, Steveson is
confident that “Bones” can still handle himself against the best
heavyweights.

“I have heard rumbles of [Gane vs.] Josh Hokit,” Steveson told RMC
Sport Combat. “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 opens 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.”

While Jones retired last year, he is still on the UFC roster and
has been drug-tested thrice in 2026, leaving the window open for a
return. Meanwhile, Steveson is scheduled to take on Sean Sharaf
at UFC
331 on Sept. 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

IMAK ADMIN

By IMAK ADMIN

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