The UFC’s relationship with Jon Jones appeared to hit an all-time low on Monday.
MMA’s greatest-ever fighter requested his release from the promotion in a lengthy social media statement.
Jon Jones cited a ‘lowball’ offer to fight on the UFC White House card and Dana White’s comments in regards to the former two-weight champion essentially being retired as reasons for his desire to depart MMA’s premier promotion.
Listed here are three explanation why the UFC won’t be releasing ‘Bones’ from his contract anytime soon.
Star power problem
Dana White likes to play it down, but the fact is he’s got a significant star problem on his hands.
Former two-weight champion Alex Pereira is the one big draw he can persuade to fight frequently.
Conor McGregor is the largest star in combat sports and is under contract with the UFC, but he has been sidelined for the past five years.
A serious injury kicked off his hiatus, which has continued as a result of an inability to get a deal done together with his bosses.
Jon Jones has also wasted several years of his profession attempting to get the precise money from the UFC.
White and Co. would quite let their stars rot on the sidelines than take into consideration releasing them.
Jones will remain a UFC fighter – even when he never returns to the Octagon – since the promotion simply can’t lose one other star.
The Heavyweight division is terrible
Jon Jones is one among the few positive things in regards to the UFC heavyweight division in 2026.
If it wasn’t for him, Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, the load class wouldn’t be value mentioning.
Heavyweight, which was once MMA’s glamour division, is now despised by fans who previously loved it.
Full of boring grapplers and sloppy strikers, heavyweight is at an all-time low and might’t afford one other hit.
Jones must stick with the UFC, so that they have an athlete able to reviving the division with only one fight.
Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou
Jake Paul and Francis Ngannou are probably the 2 people standing in the best way of Jon Jones leaving the UFC.
Dana White might imagine his GOAT is riddled with arthritis and unable to compete at the highest level anymore, but he also understands that he’s capable of constructing whoever he fights for a ton of cash.
If Jones leaves the UFC today, he walks across the road and makes as much as $50 million from a rival.
Most Useful Promotions would immediately make an enormous fight between Jones and Ngannou.
Paul has already snagged Ronda Rousey from the UFC, so Jones can’t be allowed to sign with him, too.
Jones will remain under UFC contract for the foreseeable future, but only time will tell if he’ll ever fight for the promotion again.