Oleksandr Usyk wants a "last dance," but Jon Jones just made it crystal clear that if that dance happens, it's gotta be on his terms: in a cage, under MMA rules. This isn't just talk, either. "Bones" Jones is still in the UFC's drug testing pool, meaning he's ready to go if the right offer comes along, but a boxing match with Usyk? Forget about it.
Usyk's "Last Dance" Just Hit a Wall
Usyk, who recently gave up his many heavyweight titles, revealed he's looking for one final fight. After a controversial win against kickboxing champ Rico Verhooven, there were plenty of names floating around. But then came the shocker: The Ring Magazine, apparently the official mouthpiece for Saudi power broker Turki Alalshikh, put Jon Jones right at the top of the list to face Usyk. Wild, right? Few expected that.Jones Draws a Line in the Sand: MMA or Nothing
Jones, ever the one to zig when everyone else expects a zag, dropped a wide-ranging interview with The Ring. But when it came to a boxing match with Usyk, "Bones" shut it down cold. "Usyk is Usyk, man, he is one of the absolute GOATs of heavyweight boxing," Jones said, giving respect where it's due. But he wasn't stopping there. Jones knows Usyk has been wrestling for years and is dominant in the clinch, which is probably why he thinks Usyk has "the highest potential of making it competitive" in MMA out of all the heavyweight boxers. Yet, Jones ain't playing handicapped. "To handicap myself by only using my hands is not the world that I come from," he stated, adding the ultimate mic drop, "I am no boxer." He even went further, "I don’t really consider Usyk to be a complete fighter. I think the world knows what would happen if we were locked in the same room." Oof! So, what does this mean? Anthony Joshua's right, we see MMA guys jump into boxing all the time, but boxers stepping into the cage? That number's super low. If Usyk and Turki want Jones, it's gotta be in the cage. Which, let's be real, probably means it won't happen. So we're back to Square One: Jones not officially retired, but not looking like he'll fight any time soon. Total bummer for fight fans, honestly.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.