Jon Jones says he needs hip replacement but still pressing for White House bout

Lead

Jon Jones, 38, disclosed on Feb. 4, 2026 that his left hip is severely arthritic and that he already qualifies for a hip replacement, yet he continues to push for a fight at a planned UFC event at the White House in June. The revelation came in a short video exchange with UFC welterweight Joaquin Buckley posted to TikTok by Noah the Boa. Jones has not competed since defending the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in November 2024 and has made only three appearances over the past six years. The UFC has not announced matchups for the June event.

Key Takeaways

• Jon Jones, age 38, reported that his left hip is covered in arthritis and that he already qualifies for hip replacement surgery.
• He revealed the condition in a TikTok clip with Joaquin Buckley posted by Noah the Boa on Feb. 4, 2026.
• Jones holds a 28-1 professional record and is a two-division UFC champion widely regarded as one of the sport’s greatest figures.
• He last fought in November 2024, defending the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic, and has logged only three Octagon appearances across the past six years.
• The UFC pursued a heavyweight unification with Tom Aspinall in 2025 before Jones briefly announced retirement, then resumed campaigning to face light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at the White House event.
• Speculation about a possible wrestling match with longtime rival Daniel Cormier increased after the pair coached opposite each other on a Russian reality fight series.
• The UFC has made no official matchup announcements for the June White House card as of Feb. 4, 2026.

Background

Jon Jones rose through the UFC ranks to become a two-weight champion and is frequently cited in debates over the greatest mixed martial artist ever. His official pro record stands at 28-1, and his jump to heavyweight culminated in a title defense versus Stipe Miocic in November 2024. After that run the promotion explored a unification bout with interim champion Tom Aspinall in 2025, but Jones announced a retirement that was later reversed as he resumed public campaigning for high-profile matchups.

The rivalry with Daniel Cormier has been a central narrative across both fighters’ careers; Cormier is a former two-division UFC champion and was an Olympic-level wrestler for the United States. That rivalry resurfaced in the public eye when Jones and Cormier served as opposing coaches on a Russian reality fight series this past month, fueling talk of exhibition or grappling-style contests beyond sanctioned MMA bouts.

Separately, the UFC’s reported plan for a June card at the White House is an unconventional stage for the promotion and raises questions about logistics, security, and fighter selection. As of the report, the organization has not released an official bout list for that event, and promoters appear to be balancing spectacle with medical and regulatory considerations for fighters with known injuries.

Main Event

The immediate news thread began when Jones spoke frankly in a short social clip to Joaquin Buckley, saying he lives with severe arthritis in his left hip and would qualify for replacement surgery. Jones described the pain he experienced during his last training camp, saying it kept him from sleeping comfortably. The disclosure is notable coming from a 38-year-old fighter who has pursued marquee matchups since moving to heavyweight, signaling that long-term wear may already be affecting performance and recovery.

Despite the medical disclosure, Jones has continued to advocate for a high-profile return, specifically targeting a potential meeting with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at the White House event. That proposal, if pursued, would present athletic and medical clearance issues, given Jones’s description of his hip condition and the demands of elite MMA competition.

Talk of a wrestling match with Daniel Cormier grew after their recent coaching roles; Cormier’s Olympic wrestling background makes him a natural opponent for grappling contests. While the wrestling speculation circulated widely on social platforms, neither party nor the UFC confirmed formal plans for such a match as of Feb. 4, 2026.

The UFC has not published the White House card lineup, and the promotion’s internal planning timelines and medical reviews will determine whether a fighter with documented hip arthritis can be cleared to compete at a sanctioned bout or a special exhibition event in June.

Analysis & Implications

Jones’s admission of qualifying for hip replacement introduces immediate questions about timeline and risk. Hip arthroplasty is a major procedure with a multi-month rehabilitation period; even a well-executed recovery could keep an elite combat athlete out of full training for a year or more. If Jones were to undergo replacement, the timing would likely preclude a competitive return in the near term and complicate any plans for a June appearance.

From a matchmaking perspective, Jones remains a unique draw whose name can anchor a card. The UFC must weigh commercial incentive against medical safety and athletic commissions’ standards. Athletic commissions typically require medical clearance and may delay or deny licenses to fighters who have recent major surgeries or chronic degenerative conditions that increase risk during competition.

There is also reputational and promotional nuance to a White House event. Staging fights at a high-profile government locale amplifies scrutiny, including demands for transparent medical vetting and contingency planning. For Jones, publicly revealing a qualifying condition for hip replacement shifts some of that scrutiny into the open, increasing pressure on both the promotion and relevant regulators to disclose medical clearances if he remains a candidate for the card.

Finally, the disclosure could influence legacy conversations. Jones has paced his post-2024 activity selectively, making only three appearances in six years; a confirmed need for hip surgery would help explain decreased in-cage activity and might alter how promoters and opponents approach any proposed return or exhibition.

Comparison & Data

The table above summarizes the key objective data points relevant to Jones’s current status. Those items frame the practical limits for booking and medical clearance: age and activity level intersect with a documented degenerative hip condition, which has known implications for training volume, fight readiness, and regulatory approval.

Reactions & Quotes

I have severe arthritis. My left hip is covered in arthritis. I actually already qualify for hip replacement, my last training camp I went to bed in so much pain.

Jon Jones (via TikTok clip posted by Noah the Boa)

What’s the odds of you wrestling Daniel Cormier?

Joaquin Buckley (question posed in the TikTok exchange)

Public response has been mixed across social platforms, with fans weighing concern for Jones’s health against eagerness to see a marquee matchup. The UFC’s official position has been quiet on specific matchups for the White House card, leaving room for speculation until the promotion releases an event roster and any accompanying medical clearances.

Unconfirmed

• No official matchup between Jon Jones and Alex Pereira for the June White House event has been announced by the UFC.
• There is no public timeline for Jones undergoing hip replacement surgery or the expected rehabilitation schedule.
• Plans for a wrestling match with Daniel Cormier remain speculative and unconfirmed by either fighter or the promotion.

Bottom Line

Jones’s public acknowledgment that he qualifies for hip replacement complicates any immediate return to elite competition, particularly for a high-stakes event in June. Medical recovery timelines for hip arthroplasty are substantial and could sideline a fighter for many months, making a pre-surgery June bout unlikely if Jones opts for the operation.

For the UFC and regulators, the disclosure raises questions about how to balance commercial appeal with athlete safety and medical transparency. Fans and stakeholders should expect the promotion to disclose clearer medical and matchup information as the event date approaches; until then, plans involving Jones should be treated as contingent on medical clearance and regulatory approval.

Sources

• ESPN — report by Brett Okamoto (media)