Bold claim: fan interest in who Jon Jones should fight next is already reshaping expectations for 2026, and the picture isn’t as clear as many assume. Here’s a clear, beginner-friendly walkthrough of the latest polling and what it could mean for the UFC’s White House card and Jones’ comeback plans.
Jon Jones’s comeback remains a hot topic as 2026 approaches, even after his retirement was confirmed in June. The heavyweight and light heavyweight champ had defended the title only once and notably avoided a unification clash with Tom Aspinall, which sparked debates about his next move. Then a twist: when a high-profile UFC White House event was announced, Jones immediately signaled an intention to return for the national celebration next June.
Since then, Jones has publicly advocated for a showdown with Alex Pereira in Washington, D.C. However, Pereira isn’t currently the fan favorite for that return fight. A Bloody Elbow TalkingPoints poll gathered 2,628 votes to determine which opponent fans would most like to see against Jones if he returns in 2026.
Tom Aspinall emerged as the top choice, capturing more than 44 percent of the vote. Fans pointed to the heavyweight title as a central, compelling storyline—Aspinall had refused to unify the titles and instead fought Stipe Miocic in late 2024, a detail many fans found intriguing and relevant to a potential title-focused rematch.
Alex Pereira trailed in second place with 26.48 percent. Pereira had called out Jones for a heavyweight super-fight after becoming a two-time light heavyweight champion by knocking out Magomed Ankalaev this past October.
Other options drew smaller but notable interest: about 17 percent favored seeing Jones face Francis Ngannou, a potential clash many fans have discussed for years, and roughly 10 percent wanted a surprising matchup with the newly crowned middleweight champion, Khamzat Chimaev.
Poll results at a glance:
- Tom Aspinall — 44.14% (1,160 votes)
- Alex Pereira — 26.48% (696 votes)
- Francis Ngannou — 16.82% (442 votes)
- Khamzat Chimaev — 10.27% (270 votes)
- Someone else — 2.28% (60 votes)
What this means for the White House card and Jones’s comeback is nuanced. Jones still faces questions about White’s willingness to book him on a monumental event, and top figures like Conor McGregor and Joe Rogan have expressed support for Jones in this circle. Yet fans appear to want a different opponent than Pereira, which could influence how the UFC constructs Jones’s path back.
Beyond Jones, audiences are buzzing about other major names targeting the same White House horizon. Conor McGregor remains the standout name, and Bloody Elbow plans to run a follow-up poll on who should headline McGregor’s own return. Options include a potential rematch with Michael Chandler, a trilogy with Nate Diaz, or a high-profile pursuit of a welterweight title for McGregor—each option carrying its own controversy and fan debate.
If you’re curious, join the conversation and share your take on who Jones should fight in his 2026 comeback. Do you agree with Aspinall’s popularity, or do you prefer Pereira’s marquee appeal? What about Ngannou or Chimaev—do they offer a more compelling narrative or a stronger chance at a title run? The debate is just getting started, and your voice adds to a larger community discussion about marquee matchups and the sport’s evolving championship landscape.
