Adesanya: Jon Jones will return to UFC, fight Aspinall

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya believes Jon Jones will fight again despite the former heavyweight champ's recent retirement announcement.

"I think he'll come back," Adesanya told Uncrowned's Ariel Helwani. "It's just the drama of it. ... What do they call it now? The kids call it rage-baiting. It's working."

Jones announced his retirement June 21 as the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, ending speculation about his future and rumors about him potentially fighting Tom Aspinall.

The 37-year-old Jones last fought in November when he defeated Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. The promotion tried to schedule a blockbuster Jones versus Aspinall fight, but Jones repeatedly said he wasn't interested in facing Aspinall, who became the undisputed champ since Jones called it a career.

Adesanya still believes MMA fans will see the two UFC heavyweights clash, though.

"I think he'll fight Tom. It's too much money," Adesanya said. "It'll even be bigger by the time he comes back because Tom would have had like two or three fights, and then built up his own legacy as well."

Aspinall won the interim heavyweight title in November 2023 by defeating Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. The 32-year-old later defended his belt with a first-round victory against Curtis Blaydes in July 2024, and he hasn't fought since. It's unclear when Aspinall will fight again, and against whom.