Jon Jones asks for UFC release: ‘Please just cut me already’

One day after saying there was “still time for the UFC to do the right thing,” Jon Jones doesn’t seem to be quite as optimistic.

The former UFC light heavyweight champion took to Twitter on Monday to request his release from the promotion in a simple five-word post.

“Please just cut me already,” Jones wrote.

The likelihood of UFC officials making that move seems slim, with Jones widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. However, it certainly does cast doubt on the idea that Jones’ long-awaited heavyweight debut will come this summer against newly-minted champion Francis Ngannou.

Jones (26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC) has made it clear he wants to be paid more than his current rate to take the superfight with Ngannou (16-3 MMA, 11-2 UFC), which would likely generate big bucks for the promotion. While UFC president Dana White joked after this past weekend’s UFC 260 that Jones could call him that night and get the matchup booked, “Bones” seemed to indicate things aren’t progressing as hoped in a further series of messages.

“You would rather have me around and treat me like sh*t,” Jones wrote. “I swear the UFC industry has been nothing but depressing for me. … I feel like my wings are being clipped.”

Jones has since deleted the messages, but before doing so, he made his disdain for his current situation crystal clear and again directly requested to have his contract terminated.

“Just f*cking let me go,” Jones wrote. “What type of weird sh*t is this, obviously the boss hates me. Let me take my business elsewhere.

“I’m not trying to be great for other people anymore, I’m trying to be great for myself. There’s nothing great about being taken advantage of. … You guys have no idea how insulted I feel.”

Jones currently sits at No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie pound-for-pound rankings, as well as No. 2 at light heavyweight.

Jones last saw action in February 2020, scoring a unanimous decision over Dominick Reyes to defend the UFC light heavyweight title for the 11th time. He later vacated the belt in hopes of chasing heavyweight gold but has yet to debut in the weight class.