Jon Jones has commented on Conor McGregor's return to the UFC, expressing admiration for the Irishman's decision to come back despite having financial success outside the sport. Jones described McGregor as a true fighter and a businessman who serves as an example to others, adding that he is and will remain a lifelong fan.
Jon Jones has spoken out in support of Conor McGregor's anticipated return to the UFC, offering warm words for the Irish star and calling himself a lifelong fan of the man known as The Notorious.
Jones, nicknamed Bones, carries a 28-1-0 professional record and is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the sport's history. The 38-year-old stands six-foot-four with an 84-inch reach and has built his career on a well-rounded game that includes 1.89 takedowns per 15 minutes and a striking accuracy of 58 percent, landing 4.38 significant strikes per minute across his career.
McGregor, 37, holds a 22-6-0 record and has long been one of MMA's most recognizable figures. The southpaw from Ireland trains out of SBG Ireland and built his reputation on sharp, high-volume striking, averaging 5.32 significant strikes per minute. Standing five-foot-nine with a 74-inch reach, he has operated across multiple weight classes during a career that extended well beyond the octagon into business ventures that made him one of the wealthiest athletes in the world.
It is that financial independence that drew Jones's admiration. According to the comments Jones made, he described McGregor as a true fighter and a businessman, suggesting the Irishman's willingness to return to competition despite having no financial need to do so marks him as an example to others in the sport.
Why it matters
- McGregor's return would be one of the most commercially significant events in recent UFC history given his profile and drawing power.
- Jones's public endorsement adds a layer of peer respect that underlines the scale of McGregor's standing within the fighter community.
- At 37, McGregor's comeback would raise immediate questions about where he fits in a stacked lightweight or welterweight division.
