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Former UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, was in Russia last weekend as a special guest for the IBA bareknuckle boxing organization. Promoter Al Siesta offered “Bones” the opportunity to compete against former PRIDE FC heavyweight champion, Fedor Emelianenko, as part of the upcoming IBA card inside Red Square in Moscow.
Emelianenko, 48, has recently been linked to a bareknuckle comeback.
“I’m contractually obligated to the UFC for a very long time,” Jones said. “No one wants to see Fedor and I fight. I don’t want to fight Fedor. I absolutely love Fedor. He’s been one of my big idols for a very long time. It’s the same thing with Anderson Silva. These guys inspired me in my youth and that will never change.”
Jones, 38, is still holding out for the UFC White House card in summer 2026.
Emelianenko (40-7, 1 NC) flirted with UFC superstardom on several occasions and was “right there” when it came time to fight Brock Lesnar in Cowboys Stadium. Unfortunately, a death in the family — coupled with poor negotiating tactics from “VaDummy” — torpedoed the fight.
As for Jones (28-1, 1 NC), this drama already proved that retirements don’t cancel contracts.
