Jon Jones wants out of his UFC contract in an effort to get some different fights – but perhaps not the ones fans are expecting.
The New Yorker is widely considered the greatest MMA fighter of all time, but has struggled to come to terms with UFC for one final fight. It looked like he might finally face Tom Aspinall last year and they had managed to put together a massive purse, but he opted to retire instead.
Then it seemed that he was going to headline the UFC White House event this year, but Dana White completely shut down the idea amid arguments about money. Now, he has claimed that he wants out of his deal in order to fight on Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.
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Jon Jones wants boxing debut after demanding UFC release
It is no secret that Jon Jones wants out of the UFC, but it has always seemed that he would only do it to make a super-fight with the likes of Francis Ngannou. However, he has now claimed that he is interested in focusing just on his striking and eventually taking a boxing match.
Jon Jones tells Denise White: I think getting out of my UFC contract is very possible. I need to find the right people and go through the right channels or just put more effort into it. pic.twitter.com/VqvrYcCh5m— Jed I. Goodman © (@jedigoodman) May 18, 2026
Speaking with his publicist Denise White, Jones said: “Am I going to fight again? You know what, I don’t know. I think that getting out of my UFC contract is very, very possible but I need to find the right people and go through the right channels. Just put more effort into it, really.
“You know what? I’ve really wanted to box. If I were to put all my energy into just my hands, my combinations, my punching power, I think I would really surprise a lot of people.”
There is certainly precedence for such crossovers, and massive money on the table. Francis Ngannou had two massive showdowns with Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, while Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather’s 2017 fight remains one of the highest-grossing events in recent memory.
2026-05-18 06:43:24
