Jon Jones shared new training footage on social media Tuesday, showing sharp bare-knuckle pad work as he continues pursuing an MMA return. The former UFC heavyweight champion posted the video amid an ongoing dispute with the promotion over his contract status.
"Right now, I'm exactly where I need to be, I'm excited to see myself in a few months when things actually start to ramp up. Feeling sharp across the board. #MMA," Jones captioned the video of him hitting pads without gloves.
The training footage comes after Jones attended his first IBA Bare-Knuckle event in St. Petersburg this past weekend, where Yoel Romero competed in the main event. Jones recently signed as an ambassador with the bare-knuckle promotion.
White House Event Dispute
The conflict between Jones and UFC boss Dana White escalated earlier this year when Jones was excluded from the UFC White House event despite expressing interest in competing on the card. White claimed Jones was never in contention for the event, contradicting Jones' account of failed negotiations.
Jones subsequently requested his release from the UFC to continue his MMA career elsewhere, though the promotion has not granted that request. White has repeatedly referenced Jones' arthritis issues when discussing the 38-year-old's future, pointing to footage of Jones telling a fan about his hip condition.
Potential Ngannou Fight
Speculation about a potential matchup between Jones and Francis Ngannou has resurfaced as Ngannou prepares for his MMA return on May 16 on the MVP MMA Netflix card. Ngannou publicly supported Jones during his dispute with the UFC, with Jones acknowledging the gesture on social media.
Despite the renewed interest in the fight, the UFC appears unlikely to release Jones from his contract. Jones' training footage suggests he remains committed to competing again, though his path back to the octagon remains unclear.
