It would seem that fans haven't seen the last of the man widely considered the greatest of all time inside the Octagon, judging by UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones' latest remarks.
Jones returned to action earlier this month 20 months on from becoming a two-division kingpin. After quickly getting the better of Ciryl Gane in his heavyweight debut last year, "Bones" added a successful defense to his reign by sending Stipe Miocic into retirement.
The pair headlined the promotion's annual November visit to Madison Square Garden in New York City, where the champ closed the show with a brutal spinning back kick to the body in round three.
Much of the lead-up surrounded Jones' continued avoidance of his interim counterpart, Tom Aspinall. In addition to teasing a possible retirement, the Rochester native pointed to Alex Pereira as the one opponent he'd remain active for in 2025.
Dana White, however, has been vocal in dismissing a clash between "Bones" and "Poatan." Despite that, it appears negotiations have begun regarding another outing for the former multi-time light heavyweight king.
During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jones provided an update on his status post-UFC 309, revealing that talks are underway with the promotion.
So right now, the UFC and I, we're in negotiations, we're in talks to see what happens next," Jones said. "I'm back in the gym. I'm training. I feel really great. The team's support, they're right behind me, and we'll just be ready for whatever opportunity comes out way.
There is (a figure in mind), but I'm not going to discuss that publicly," Jones continued. "I will be competing in 2025, more than likely.
While Jones has stayed steadfast in rejecting the possibility of unifying the heavyweight titles versus Aspinall next, that would appear to still be the most desired matchup among the MMA masses for the 37-year-old.
Whether or not the UFC can do what is needed to convince Jones, who has previously sat on the sidelines while criticizing the promotion's failure to meet his financial demands, remains to be seen.
In the meantime, fans can likely expect Jones to continue his habit of embracing the 'ducking' allegations on social media.