Gable Steveson: Vacant UFC belt could put 'fire' back in Jon Jones

The vacant UFC heavyweight title could be the catalyst to bring Jon Jones out of retirement, according to his training partner Gable Steveson. Jones stepped away from the sport last year as champion, having repeatedly declined to fight interim titleholder Tom Aspinall. Aspinall was subsequently elevated to undisputed champion but recently vacated the belt due to ongoing recovery from multiple eye surgeries sustained in an October no-contest with Ciryl Gane.

With the heavyweight division now in flux and unbeaten prospect Josh Hokit potentially set to challenge Gane for the vacant title, Steveson believes the open title picture could reignite Jones's competitive fire. Training alongside "Bones" daily in Albuquerque, Steveson is confident that Jones remains capable of competing at the highest level despite his time away.

"I think Jon would like to come back also," Steveson told RMC Sport Combat. "Maybe seeing the belt opens up puts another fire in him… I know he can do it at the highest level. Maybe his time will come again and I think it will." Jones remains on the UFC roster and has been drug-tested three times in 2026, keeping the door open for a return. Meanwhile, Steveson is preparing for his own bout against Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on September 19 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.