Overview

• UFC’s anti-doping records show Jones submitted his third test of 2025 on August 8, officially ending his brief retirement and meeting the six-month testing requirement for the Independence Day event.
• Conor McGregor mirrored Jones’s move by rejoining the testing pool, boosting speculation that both former champions are vying to anchor the Semiquincentennial showcase.
• Dana White remains noncommittal about finalizing Jones’s participation, refraining from confirming a main-event slot for the former heavyweight titleholder.
• In Jones’s absence, Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion after victories at UFC 295 and UFC 304 and is slated to defend the belt against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.
• UFC leadership and fans are closely watching to see if the division’s shifting dynamics will culminate in a headline clash on the White House grounds next summer.