Heavyweight champion Jon Jones was present backstage at the Sphere for the Noche Riyadh UFC 306 event. This was shortly after Dana White announced his return to face Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16. While this news came as a surprise, the UFC CEO was in for a shock himself when he was informed about Jones’s whereabouts and that he was hanging out with Ryan Garcia

“Bones” was having a great time hanging out in the Sphere and was seen taking pictures with Ramage Jackson and UFC Light Heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. Jones, who hasn’t fought since beating Ciryl Gane last year in March, even partied with the new bantamweight champion Merab Dvalishvili. As he walked out he was asked about meeting Pereira and boxer Garcia and O’Malley’s defeat.

In the Instagram video uploaded by ClockedNLoaded, Jones can be seen praising Pereira saying he was “so humble and an awesome guy and awesome champion.” He also had the same words of appreciation for Ryan Garcia. But in the comment section, one fan claimed, “He high af.” The UFC Champion had a response ready.

Replying to the user’s comment, Jones wrote, “Totally high, almost every day I feel like I’m living in a dream.” Earlier, fans had smelled trouble for White and UFC when it emerged that Jones was with Ryan Garcia at the Sphere. Both Jones and Garcia have had their controversies in the past especially related to drug use. White himself was perplexed when he found out that his fighter was seen with Garcia, especially after the announcement of the big fight.

White was talking to the press after the UFC 306 when he was questioned about Jones. He replied, “Jon Jones is running loose and wild here tonight in Las Vegas. Hunter [Campbell] you babysitting him tonight?, referring to UFC’s Chief Business Officer. But when White was informed that he was with Ryan Garcia, he started laughing nervously and said, “I hope that’s not true. Listen, Jon promised me tonight that he’s going to be good while he’s in Las Vegas. So, [knocks on wood].”

With a video of Jones and Garcia having fun at the Sphere going viral, fans on social media suspected Jones may again fall into some controversy. One fan wrote under the IG post, “Home getting tested first thing in the morning,” while another was worried for Dana White, writing, “Don’t let Dana see this.”

On X, the fandom was also abuzz with concerns over Garcia being with Jones. One user wrote, “Get ready for the JON JONES BREAKING NEWS in the morning.” Another fan caught on White’s gesture of tapping on the table and wrote, “His soul is shrinking when he taps that table at the end! Good job he’s bald already!”

The concerns of fans could be well placed given the history of both Jones and Garcia. Jones previously tested positive for cocaine metabolites as well as anti-estrogen substances, an aromatase inhibitor, and an anabolic steroid from 2015 to 2017.

Garcia was suspended from boxing for a year following a positive test for the banned substance Ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug. This suspension followed both A and B samples testing positive. As a result, his win against Devin Haney was declared a no-contest.

Well, thankfully for Dana White, no harmful news has come out after Jones’ meeting with Garcia. It would be interesting to see if Jones would be able to successfully defend his title in what is likely his last UFC fight, or will it be Miocic who takes the belt home? It is a tough call, but one that has already been made by heavyweight, Francis Ngannou.

Francis Ngannou shares his prediction for the duel between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic

While anyone would have thought that Francis would opt for the GOAT of MMA, Jon Jones, he decided to choose Stipe Miocic. The Cameroonian faced him twice, with a unanimous decision loss and a knockout victory, which surely influenced his response. ‘The Predator’ highlighted the exceptional qualities that the American has, especially in boxing, and even considered that people may be underestimating him.

He said, “It would have to be Stipe. Stylistically… Stipe—I fought Stipe twice, and I think Stipe doesn’t have the credit he deserves. Obviously, I won the second time; still, I know that I could have lost that time.” Of course, on the other side, there will be the best mixed martial artist on the planet, Jon Jones, who has a record of 27-1-1 and has never lost a fight above the cage (except for that controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009). So what do you think? Who will win the fight? Let us know in the comments.