Jon Jones plans to fight again.
The former two-division UFC champion made an appearance at the MTV Video Music Awards in Elmont, N.Y., on Sunday evening, and he gave a quick update on his career plans following his surprise retirement this past June.
“I am not retired,” Jones said via a clip posted by a public relations manager. “I’m actively training five days a week and I’m in the UFC’s drug-testing pool.”
According to the official UFC anti-doping website, Jones, 38, has been tested three times in 2025,
with one of those taking place following his retirement announcement. That announcement was initially made by UFC CEO Dana White and later confirmed by Jones, but when Jones heard that UFC President Donald Trump was planning to hold a UFC event at the White House to celebrate Independence Day in June 2026, he quickly reversed course and has been campaigning to be included on that card.
White said he does not trust Jones enough to book him for the event given Jones’ checkered history of outside-the-cage issues (which includes failed drug tests and multiple arrests), calling it a “billion-to-one” shot that Jones fights at UFC White House. Jones remains optimistic and has made it clear he will be available if the matchmakers call.
“I don’t really know,” Jones said when asked of his status for UFC White House. “It’s kind of out of my control right now. I’m training for the event, I’ll be ready for the event, that’s my goal, that’s my intention, but ultimately it’s up to the boss.”
Check out Jones’ short interview below and more photos of him from Sunday’s MTV event.
