Jon Jones is planning a UFC return at 38.
Questions about the direction of the heavyweight division grew in early 2025 when he refused to face then-interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Jones retired from MMA later that summer, ending a career that saw him rise to the top of many fans’ GOAT lists.
But his retirement did not last long. Talk of a special UFC event at the White House in 2026 caught his attention, and he quickly began teasing a comeback.
The two-weight champion has decided to continue fighting well past the age Khabib Nurmagomedov once suggested as an ideal stopping point – a view Jones publicly agreed with not long ago.
Khabib Nurmagomedov’s message about quitting fighting over the age of 35
Khabib chose to retire at just 32, keeping a promise made to his mother after the death of his father Abdulmanap.
While speaking at Ushatayka last August, ‘The Eagle’ explained why no fighter should continue beyond their mid-thirties, suggesting he would have retired at 35 had he not lost his dad.
“When you become 35, you need to stop doing this because [you should] leave this sport for young guys.
“When you become 35 and you don’t finish, somebody is going to finish you. Why? It’s better to finish. After 35, you’re never going to be the same.
“People can talk whatever they want, when you’re past your prime, you [are] going to fight only for money,” he concluded.
Months after its release, the video garnered Jones’ attention, leading him to re-share it on his Instagram Stories with a caption that echoed his agreement with the sentiment expressed by Khabib.
“Wise words from the champ, make your money and don’t be afraid to diversify,” ‘Bones’ stated.
Islam Makhachev takes a different view from Khabib Nurmagomedov on retirement age
Khabib made those remarks while discussing when he thought his protege, Islam Makhachev, should consider stepping away from the sport.
‘The Eagle’ favoured a brief reign for Makhachev at 170 pounds, suggesting a year and a half before calling it quits.
Makhachev, however, has no intention of following that plan.
Before capturing the title at UFC 322, he mentioned his ambition to surpass Kamaru Usman’s record of five successful welterweight title defences.
“I defended my (lightweight) belt more than everybody,” Makhachev told UFC.
“I want to do something more, not just become champion.
“Second belt, defend, maybe more than Kamaru, and to become (part of) the Hall of Fame.”
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