"Everyone knows mixed martial arts doesn't take an offseason, but it sure feels as if we're in the middle of one right now. It has been more than three weeks since the most recent event, UFC Fight Night on Dec. 13. And we're still more than two weeks from the end of inactivity with UFC 324 on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas."
"I'm zigging where others are zagging here. The widespread expectation going into 2026 is that Jones will absolutely make his return to MMA. That expectation is based on his July announcement that he would end his short retirement in hopes of fighting at the White House this summer, preferably against Alex Pereira. Ask MMA pundits and fans right now if they believe Jones will fight at least once in 2026, and the response probably will be overwhelmingly affirmative."
Mixed martial arts activity feels unusually quiet between events, with the last card on Dec. 13 and UFC 324 scheduled for Jan. 24 in Las Vegas. Fans and analysts are eager for the 2026 schedule to begin, and impatience is common during the lull. Several bold and unexpected scenarios for 2026 are presented as plausible outcomes. MMA remains highly unpredictable because scheduling depends on wins and losses, making long-range prognostication difficult. Strong expectations exist that Jon Jones will return in 2026 following a July announcement about ending retirement and seeking a White House fight opportunity.
Read at ESPN.com
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