Jon Jones Declares He Only Needs Royce Gracie and Tito Ortiz, Willing to Defend Title Twice a Year!

In an off-the-wall, sarcasm-soaked moment that only Jon “Bones” Jones could deliver with a straight face, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion has finally broken his silence regarding his long layoff. But don’t expect any fight announcements. Instead, Jones launched into a wild, satirical tirade blaming UFC president Dana White for his inactivity — citing the organization’s failure to book him fights with legends from the VHS era of MMA.

According to Jones, the only reason he hasn’t defended his title in over a year is because Dana refuses to send him contracts to fight Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Tito Ortiz, or even Randy Couture.

“Don’t blame me,” Jones posted. “I’m more than ready to fight. Dana just won’t make the fights happen. I told him — give me Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, or even a warmed-up Tito Ortiz. I’ll fight Randy Couture on a treadmill if that helps. I’ll defend the belt twice a year. All I need is the paperwork.”

Let that sink in: Jon Jones, the man many call the GOAT, is trolling everyone — from fans to media to Dana White himself — by demanding fights with men who peaked during the Bush administration.

But don’t mistake it for just a joke. This is classic Jon Jones: playful, sarcastic, frustratingly brilliant — and somehow, always in control of the headlines.

Jon’s “Legend Series” – The Opponent Wish List

Let’s break down Jones’ fantasy matchmaking, which he delivered with the confidence of a man genuinely expecting a UFC poster to drop any day now.

🥋 Royce Gracie (age: 57)

A Brazilian jiu-jitsu icon and UFC 1 tournament winner. Last seen in the Octagon when dial-up internet was still a thing. Jones says he wants a ground battle with the man who invented it all — even if Gracie insists on wearing a gi.

💪 Ken Shamrock (age: 60)

Once called “The World’s Most Dangerous Man,” Shamrock is now more likely to be seen in a protein commercial than an Octagon. But Jones believes it would be a “legacy fight” — possibly in a cage match hybrid with WWE rules.

🧠 Tito Ortiz (age: 49)

Former UFC light heavyweight champ, political enthusiast, and occasional boxing exhibitionist. Jones wants Tito in the cage for a trilogy — of press conferences.

🦅 Randy Couture (age: 61)

The only name on the list who might actually accept the challenge without blinking. Jones says he’d wrestle Couture “in hiking boots if necessary.”

“All I’m asking for is fair competition,” Jones joked. “Just me and the pioneers. Maybe in a desert. With a crowd of historians. Let’s make it happen.”

The UFC President Responds… Probably With an Eye Roll

So far, Dana White has not commented directly on Jones’ legendary callouts, but one can imagine him somewhere in Las Vegas, staring blankly at his phone and muttering, “This f***ing guy.”

White and Jones have a complicated history, full of contract disputes, public spats, and awkward silences. But even Dana might admit this is top-tier trolling from the champ.

In past disputes, Jones threatened retirement, asked for boxing matches, and demanded “superfights.” This time? He’s gone full MMA time traveler, asking to fight ghosts of Octagons past.

Twitter Reacts: “This Might Be Jon’s Best Work Yet”

As expected, MMA Twitter exploded in laughter, disbelief, and even cautious optimism. Here’s a sampling of reactions:

• @PunchDrunkFan: “Jones vs. Shamrock 2 — The AARP Era. I’m buying it.”

• @RealDealMMA: “Royce Gracie just woke up in 1993 wondering what year it is.”

• @InsideTheCage: “If Jon pulls this off, it’s the weirdest title defense in UFC history. And I’m here for it.”

Even fighters chimed in. Retired middleweight legend Chael Sonnen joked:

“If Jon wants to fight legends, I’m available. I’ll even bring my own microphone. And script.”

Is There a Deeper Message?

As ridiculous as the post may be, Jon Jones is making a subtle point — one that only someone with his level of power and infamy can make.

In classic satirical form, Jones is mocking the criticisms that have followed him:

• “He doesn’t want to fight real contenders.”

• “He’s ducking top competition.”

• “He’s inactive and stalling the division.”

By ironically asking to fight people who last trained with flip phones, Jones is turning the narrative upside down. He’s essentially saying:

“If you’re going to accuse me of not fighting top guys, let me really lean into it.”

And while he’s clearly not serious about fighting Royce Gracie (we think), he’s using humor to control the conversation — just as he’s done for over a decade.

The Inactivity Problem – Real or Exaggerated?

While the joke is loud and clear, the reality is that Jon Jones hasn’t defended his heavyweight title since capturing it in March 2023 against Ciryl Gane. Injuries, matchup issues, and his long-awaited fight with Stipe Miocic continue to stall his return.

Many fans are frustrated. Some believe Jones is dodging tough fights like Tom Aspinall or Sergei Pavlovich. Others see the Miocic fight as a waste of time. Jones, meanwhile, is sipping his protein shake and tweeting about fighting pioneers of the sport.

It’s both hilarious and infuriating. Which, coincidentally, sums up Jon Jones’ career in a nutshell.

Jones vs. The Legends: Fantasy Booking

Let’s imagine, just for fun, what would happen if Dana lost his mind and said, “Fine, Jon. Let’s book the legends tour.”

UFC 400 – Bones vs. Gracie

• Gracie enters in full gi, waves to the crowd, and is suplexed 8 seconds later.

• Jones wins by submission, using a move he names “The Time Capsule.”

UFC 401 – Shamrock Returns

• After a motivational speech, Shamrock steps into the cage wearing gladiator shorts.

• Jones knocks him down with a jab and hugs him for the next 10 minutes in respect.

UFC 402 – Tito’s Redemption

• Tito gives a pre-fight speech about politics.

• Jones lands a spinning elbow before Tito finishes saying “the Huntington Beach…”

UFC 403 – Randy Couture Wrestles a Legend

• The only competitive match.

• Couture lands a takedown.

• Jones responds by turning invisible and rear-naked choking Couture with sheer strategy.

The True Opponent: Jon Jones vs. the System

Beyond the humor, the legend callout reflects Jones’ strange relationship with modern MMA. He’s simultaneously too big for the division, too accomplished for many challengers, and too unpredictable to promote without risk.

At 36 years old, he’s done everything:
✅ Undefeated record (no, we don’t count that DQ).
✅ Most title wins in UFC history.
✅ Dominated multiple generations.
✅ Made fans laugh, cry, scream, and throw remotes.

So maybe now, his biggest battle is against the structure of MMA itself — the critics, the fans, and yes, Dana White, who still hasn’t found the perfect opponent for the king of chaos.

Final Thoughts: The GOAT Still Owns the Mic

In a time when fighters are playing it safe, running media scripts, and chasing clout through safe callouts, Jon Jones is doing what only he can: trolling the entire UFC world while somehow keeping everyone watching.

He’s the greatest fighter of a generation, a master provocateur, and now, apparently, a matchmaker from 1994.

So will he fight this year? Maybe.
Will it be against Royce Gracie? Probably not.
But will we be entertained while we wait?

Absolutely.

Until then, the legend of Jon Jones continues — one sarcastic callout at a time.