At this stage, it’s uncertain whether Jon Jones will retire or not. After his emphatic victory over Stipe Miocic, Jones appears energized about potential future matchups. This marks a shift from his earlier stance, as he had previously hinted at retiring regardless of the outcome of the bout.

Despite Jones’ earlier retirement musings, his coach has suggested that the UFC’s reigning heavyweight champion—and widely regarded best pound-for-pound fighter—may continue competing, leaving fans guessing about what’s next for the consensus MMA GOAT.

Brandon Gibson feels Jones has a lot of fuel left in the tank 

Jon Jones’ long-time coach,

Brandon Gibson, recently shared insights on Inside Fighting, revealing the unexpected U-turn Jones made regarding his retirement plans. After his first title defense last weekend, Gibson acknowledged that this milestone played a pivotal role in shaping the decision about his future.

Gibson remarked, “I don’t think that moment in the octagon, with a career like Jon’s, is the moment where you decide that. A lot was predicated on how the fight with Stipe was going to go. Thankfully, we came out without any injuries. Jon is in great shape, in great spirits, and he’ll always be a martial artist.”

He further suggested that even if Jones never competes in the octagon again, fans could still witness his expertise as a coach or trainer across various platforms, underscoring Jones’ enduring influence on the sport.

During fight week, the 37-year-old teased the possibility of a super-fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. However, this sparked criticism from fans, who felt Jones was avoiding a matchup with rising heavyweight star Tom Aspinall. At the UFC 309 pre-fight press conference, UFC President Dana White made it clear that the winner of Jones’ fight against Stipe Miocic would face Aspinall next, effectively sidelining any plans for a bout with the Brazilian juggernaut.

Moreover, fans were thrilled to hear Jones hinting at delaying retirement. Speaking to Joe Rogan in his Octagon interview, Jones said, “As far as my future in the Octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire and that I have some conversations I need to have with Dana (White) and Hunter (Campbell). We’ve got some negotiating to do.”

Meanwhile, Jones’ coach not only confirmed the shift in his retirement plans but also expressed confidence in his ability to defeat Tom Aspinall, further fueling anticipation for a potential showdown between the two heavyweights.

Jon Jones has a great chance of defeating Aspinall as per the former’s coach

In the same interview with Inside Fighting, Brandon Gibson shed light on why Tom Aspinall’s record-breaking average fight time might actually play to Jones’ advantage in a potential matchup.

“Aspinall is a great interim champ; he’s had an impressive heavyweight career so far,” the coach remarked. “There are still a lot of unknowns about him, which could work in his favor—or work in ours. How will he handle deep waters? How will he perform in later rounds? There’s likely to be pressure on him to start fast, and that could play into our strategy.”, Gibson further added.

He also emphasized Jones’ unmatched fight IQ and versatile skill set as key factors in overcoming younger opponents like Aspinall. Jones has a history of solving complex challenges against elite fighters like Glover Teixeira, Alexander Gustafsson, and Dominick Reyes, turning the tide in his favor with strategic brilliance.

With anticipation building, it’s only a matter of time before we see whether Jones and Aspinall will collide in what promises to be a high-stakes showdown. Do you think Aspinall is the next opponent for Jones? Share your thoughts in the comments below!