Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones struck a somber tone in his reaction to Conor McGregor's disastrous comeback.
Conor McGregor's latest comeback attempt ended in disaster after he suffered a right leg injury just seconds into his return at UFC 329. Former BMF titleholder Max Holloway ended up winning the fight by TKO after McGregor was unable to continue competing following the injury.
Despite the shocking setback at UFC 329, McGregor wants to return to the Octagon once he's fully recovered from his injury. He has one fight left on his UFC contract before he'll be eligible for free agency.
McGregor and former two-division champion Jon Jones have dealt with many speed bumps and controversies outside of the Octagon during their careers. Jones, who sat cageside as McGregor entered the Octagon at UFC 329, believes the path that McGregor takes after this latest setback will determine his future.
Jon Jones relates to Conor McGregor's struggles outside of MMA after disastrous UFC 329 return
In a recent interview with Ring Magazine, Jones reacted to McGregor's disastrous return and advised him on how to handle the aftermath of his injury.
“Conor has been publicly leaning on [Christianity]. And I feel as if when you're trying to resist the world, and walk that narrow path, I feel like one of the steps is…being asked how bad do you want it?†Jones said of McGregor.
“When you're publicly talking about your love for God, and then you turn around and get injured, it would be really easy to go back to the bar with rage and animosity. So far, what I've seen from Conor is that he's still [faithful], and that shows me a lot about his character…I've lost family members, I've embarrassed myself, and every time something goes wrong, I always give grace back to God. So that's one of the ways I look at Conor's story: can you hold true when the whole world is laughing at you? And so far, he's holding true.
“That means a lot to see that,†Jones continued. “Conor has already won. He has an opportunity to change so many lives in so many different ways. He's a really great example of how humans can be so imperfect, but so unique and special at the same time. I just hope he doesn't give up and that he continues to let his light shine.â€
Another UFC legend disagrees with Jones' comments about McGregor's leaning on his religion. Former UFC champion TJ Dillashaw believes McGregor's newfound faith could hinder his chances at a successful UFC comeback.
Do you think Jon Jones and Conor McGregor will fight in the UFC again? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Bogdan
Guskov is now used to the chaotic package that is Valter
Walker.
Ultimate Fighting Championship fighters Guskov and Walker are
training partners at Gor
MMA under head coach Gor Azizyan. The latter has a loud
personality and rarely hesitates to pull off embarrassing pranks in
public, and the former was his latest victim.
Bogdan Guskov reacts to Valter Walker prank ahead of UFC Abu
Dhabi
In his latest prank, the Brazilian bizarrely touched Guskov's
manhood on camera. However, Guskov has learned to be unfazed by
Walter's antics.
Guskov believes Walker has chaos inside his head. While Guskov
doesn't understand Walker, he considers “The Foot Hunter†a friend.
The Uzbek fighter neither took the incident seriously in any way
nor tried to stop Walker from posting it on social media.
“He is a f*cking moron. A fool. A f*cking idiot. I didn't expect
that. I don't understand him at all,†Guskov told Red Corner MMA.
“He's got chaos in his head. We've got to get used to his
stupidity. As they say, he is a moron, but he's our own moron. Our
homie… [No intrusive thoughts] at all. It's Valter. What intrusive
thoughts? He ran away as I wanted to slap him. He knows that I
don't take such things lightly… Try not to let him post anything;
he would go home and still post it. And then won't show up. He's a
godsend to a spy.â€
Guskov (18-3) is stepping up on 14 days' notice against Magomed
Ankalaev (20-2) in the main event at
UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25. Meanwhile, Walker (15-1) takes on
Thomas
Petersen (11-4) in a heavyweight matchup on the same card.
Ultimate Fighting Championship legend Jon Jones
believes Ciryl Gane's
confidence will play a key role in a rematch against Tom
Aspinall.
Gane (14-2) challenged Aspinall (15-3) for the heavyweight title in
their first meeting at UFC 321
last October. However, the fight ended in an unfortunate no-contest
after a double eye poke by Gane in the first round rendered
Aspinall unable to continue.
While Aspinall subsequently underwent eye surgery, Gane defeated
Alex
Pereira to win the interim heavyweight title at
UFC Freedom 250. “Bon Gamin” is now expected to challenge
Aspinall in a title unification bout next and Jones believes the
Frenchman will come out on top.
Why Jon Jones believes Ciryl Gane has the edge over Tom
Aspinall
According to Jones, Gane's confidence is soaring after his win over
Pereira. The former champion also notes that Aspinall was looking
invincible until he faced Gane at UFC 321. Notably, many, including
UFC CEO Dana
White, opined that the two-time interim champion was winning
the fight as long as it lasted.
“I believe Gane's going to win,†Jones told Ring Magazine. “When
you become the champion and you beat a man like Alex Pereira, it
has to do something for your confidence. Even in Gane's first fight
with Tom Aspinall, Tom was looking pretty invincible until Ciryl
Gane. And most people feel like Gane was winning that fight. I feel
like Gane's confidence has to be at an all-time high.â€
Jones returned to the Octagon after three years against Gane in
2023, with the vacant heavyweight title on the line. “Bones” made
quick work of the French heavyweight with a guillotine choke in the
very first round. Meanwhile, the American has a contentious
relationship with Aspinall, with the duo going back and forth
repeatedly before Jones ultimately vacated the belt.
Real American Freestyle has announced a new championship designed
exclusively for elite crossover athletes from combat sports.
In a new social media post, RAF revealed details about the
competition. The inaugural championship bout of the new crossover
event will feature Arman
Tsarukyan against former
Ultimate Fighting Championship interim champion Colby
Covington.
RAF Crossover Championship creates new path for combat sports
athletes
RAF has introduced the RAF Crossover Championship, developed
exclusively for high-profile crossover athletes from combat sports.
The first cruiserweight match will take place at RAF 11 in
Milwaukee, featuring Tsarukyan and Covington.
The crossover will blend elite freestyle wrestling with MMA talent,
offering marquee crossover matchups.
“A new championship arrives at RAF,†RAF Wrestling's official X
account posted. “Introducing the RAF Crossover Championship.
Created exclusively for crossover wrestlers from across the world
of combat sports.â€
“The first chapter begins in Milwaukee with Arman Tsarukyan vs.
Colby Covington. The inaugural Cruiserweight Crossover
Championship,†the post further read.
Tsarukyan enters the matchup with a perfect 6-0 record under the
RAF banner, having most recently dominated Kuat
Khamitov at RAF Georgia. Covington, meanwhile, is unbeaten
through three RAF appearances, building on an accomplished amateur
wrestling background that includes an NJCAA national championship
and NCAA Division I All-American honors. The former interim UFC
welterweight champion last edged Chris
Weidman at RAF 9.
The event is set for July 18 at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee.
A new championship arrives at RAF.
Introducing the RAF Crossover Championship.
Created exclusively for crossover wrestlers from across the world
of combat sports.
The first chapter begins in Milwaukee with Arman
Tsarukyan vs. Colby
Covington.
The inaugural Cruiserweight… pic.twitter.com/EHDvb9kuwV
— Real American Freestyle (@RAFWrestlingUSA)
July 13, 2026