Jon Jones rules out boxing Oleksandr Usyk, keeps door open for UFC return

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LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 11: Gable Steveson and his team pose for a photograph following a heavyweight fight during the UFC 329 event at T-Mobile Arena on July 11, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC) Jon Jones might not be done with fighting, but if he does come back, it won’t be to box Oleksandr Usyk. Last month, unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk announced he’s vacating his boxing world championships to pursue a “last dance” fight for fun. While most people disregarded it, Jones’ name quickly came up as a potential superfight opponent for Usyk’s retirement, but Jones isn’t giving that idea any traction. “No, not at all,” Jones told Ring Magazine. “Usyk is Usyk, man. He’s one of the absolute GOATs of boxing, of heavyweight boxing. I also am aware that he does wrestling, and wrestling has been a heavy part of his training for years. It’s probably why he’s so dominant in the clinch. If he’d like to test his total combat skills, I would oblige him in that. But to handicap myself by only using my hands, that’s not the world that I come from. “Out of all of the heavyweight boxers, I do see Usyk having the highest potential at making it competitive, but I am no boxer, and I don’t consider Usyk to be a complete fighter. I think the world knows what would happen if we were locked in the same room, and I’ll just leave it at that.” But while Jones may not be interested in boxing Usyk, the UFC Hall of Famer isn’t quite ready to declare himself done with MMA. Jones briefly retired from the sport in 2025 but ended his retirement soon after to pursue a spot on the UFC White House card. That, obviously, didn’t end up happening, but it didn’t change Jones’ retirement decision. Because while he has no immediate plans to compete, Jones says he’s not going to officially retire, either. “When it comes to me actually fighting anyone, I just keep the door open,” Jones said. “I’m still in the UFC’s testing pool. I get drug tested, blood tested all the time. I’m living vicariously through my buddy Gable Steveson right now. I tell everybody that. Being backstage, being around the fans, seeing that passion, being in the training gym, I get to do it all over again through Gable. So, I’m giving him my absolute best, teaching him everything I know about the sport, and that’s been really fulfilling for me. “I think for a lot of fans as well, they’re like, ‘Jon, when are you going to come back?’ And those same fans, they’re like, ‘Hey, welcome back, Coach Jones.’ So I’m getting my itch. I feel like I’m giving the fans their itch, but I’m doing it with a younger generation of fighter. And I feel like that’s what life’s all about. … “It’s fulfilling. Not as fulfilling as being in the ring or in the octagon, but it is scratching that itch. I can genuinely say I’m happy right now.” But happy right now does not mean happy forever. And while the longer he waits, the less likely it is that Jones returns to the cage, he can see a world where he has his own last dance. “The door is open,” Jones said. “Like I said, I’m still in that drug-testing pool. I’m just allowing time to fly by by focusing on somebody else. I feel like if I get that calling, maybe from the higher powers, that kind of tugging, then I’m going to have to answer that call. But right now, I feel like I’m in the right place, which is serving someone else.” TOP STORIES Dreams. Kamaru Usman says it’s either Sean Strickland or Islam Makhachev next if he wins at UFC OKC. Goals. Jake Paul still chasing Nate Diaz fight in MMA, open to Floyd Mayweather next in boxing: ‘He needs the money.’ Class? 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End of story! — Imavov Nassourdine (@imavov1) July 16, 2026 So that’s what’s in Secret Juice. Juice pic.twitter.com/e6l3cUzJnl — Paulo Costa (@BorrachinhaMMA) July 17, 2026 Lerone Murphy’s daily diet. FEED ME MORE Very serious analysis. FINAL THOUGHTS UFC OKC is not the best card, but the main event is weird and interesting. I’m here for it. Enjoy the fights, y’all. See y’all next week. If you find something you’d like to see in the Morning Report, hit up @AlexanderKLee of @JedKMeshew on Twitter and let us know about it. Also, follow MMAFighting on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and like us on Facebook.

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Jon Jones has no interest in boxing Oleksandr Usyk, still open to the idea of a UFC return