Jon Jones has publicly thrown his support behind Conor McGregor ahead of the Irishman's highly anticipated return at UFC 329. McGregor is set to face Max Holloway in a welterweight rematch on July 11 in Las Vegas, and will mark McGregor's first Octagon appearance in over five years, with his last bout ending in a broken leg against Dustin Poirier in 2021.
In a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Jones explained why he respects McGregor's decision to return despite achieving massive financial success.
Watch the Full Interview Here:
"Conor doesn’t need to fight. He has everything," Jones stated. "I respect the fact that he’s coming back to fight so much because it shows that he is a fighter in his heart" .
Jones, who retired from MMA last year after a legendary career, sees a significant difference between his own path and McGregor's choice.
"Me? I got to a certain level and decided to walk away," Jones admitted. "Conor, he’s back and it just shows how much he loves the sport. It shows that he's still that fighter despite having so much success."
He later faced another 15-month suspension for a second positive test, though he again claimed tainted supplements were the cause.
McGregor's violation is of a different nature but equally consequential to his reputation.
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He accepted an 18-month ban from the UFC's anti-doping program after missing three attempted biological sample collections within 12 months in 2024, a whereabouts failure that prevents testing.
McGregor has also admitted to using PEDs, but says the UFC had given him a testing exemption because he used them to recover from a career-threatening broken leg. Both McGregor and the UFC have emphasized he has been tested 19 times over two years.
Both have fueled ongoing debates about their legacies and the integrity of their records.
Jones will be among the many MMA fans watching as McGregor attempts to secure his first win since January 2020.
