Jon Jones weighs return after Francis Ngannou callout reignites fighting 'itch'

Jon Jones is exploring additional stem cell therapy as he evaluates a potential return to fighting. The former light heavyweight and heavyweight champion revealed that Joe Rogan recently recommended Ways2Well, a stem cell treatment facility, after Rogan experienced improved mobility following his own procedure there.

Jones explained his interest in pursuing the same path: "I'm going to get more stem cells and see if that's true and I regain the mobility in my hips that I once had." Physical limitations from accumulated mileage have kept Jones sidelined, but stem cell treatment could potentially restore some of the movement he has lost over his career.

Despite these concerns, Jones' competitive fire has been reignited. Training with Olympic wrestling gold medalist Gable Steveson as both coach and training partner has kept him engaged with elite-level athletics. More significantly, a callout from Francis Ngannou and the perceived openness of the heavyweight division have created what Jones calls "this itch that I feel like I really want to scratch."

"My heart and spirit are always there when it comes to fighting," Jones said. "Being around and coaching Gable Steveson and getting called out by Francis Ngannou and seeing how wide open the heavyweight division is, it obviously creates this itch." Jones intends to monitor his body's response to continued training with Steveson while undergoing additional stem cell treatment, allowing time to reveal whether a return to competition is feasible.