Jon Jones Says He Won’t Return to Jackson-Wink, Has No Hard Feelings Toward Longtime Gym

Jon Jones won’t return to Jackson-Wink MMA after being banned from the Albuquerque, N.M.-based camp last month.

Jones revealed that he will seek a new training home in a series of posts on Twitter, though that new destination is currently unclear. The former light heavyweight champion was suspended from the Jackson-Wink gym by Mike Winkeljohn following his arrest for battery domestic violence in Las Vegas this past September. Winkeljohn indicated that Jones could return if he quit drinking, but an eventual reunion doesn’t appear to be an option for the fighter, who hasn’t competed in the Octagon since February 2020.

“Definitely won’t be going back but I will continue to root for all the fighters that are training there,” Jones wrote. “I do believe my training methods and sessions have improved significantly since changing environments. Grateful for all the time I got to spend there, everything has it’s time.

“I know I won’t be able to train in my garage forever, eventually I’m going to need more training partners,” he added. “Mainly wrestling partners and kickboxers. I’m on the lookout for teams that I’ll be able to visit and come train with, maybe get some sparring sessions in.”

In respond to a comment that he “carried the team,” Jones remained diplomatic but admitted that Jackson-Wink might not be at the level that it was in the past.

“I don’t feel like I carried the team, we have lots of guys doing amazing things out of that gym,” Jones wrote. “I will admit the program isn’t at the level it used to be, and hasn’t been for a while now.”

It’s still unclear how the UFC will address Jones’ latest legal troubles. Jones is presumably working toward a heavyweight debut but has not come to terms with the promotion for that transition. UFC president Dana White didn’t offer much insight regarding Jones’ status at the UFC 268 press conference on Saturday night.

“He’s not fighting until next year so I’m not even thinking about that yet,” White said. “He said next year.”

I don’t feel like I carried the team, we have lots of guys doing amazing things out of that gym. I will admit the program isn’t at the level it used to be, and hasn’t been for a while now https://t.co/hs8rAEgWz5

— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 7, 2021

definitely won’t be going back but I will continue to root for all the fighters that are training there. I do believe my training methods and sessions have improved significantly since changing environments. Grateful for all the time I got to spend there, everything has its time

— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 7, 2021

I know I won’t be able to train in my garage forever, eventually I’m going to need more training partners. Mainly wrestling partners and kickboxers. I’m on the lookout for teams that I’ll be able to visit and come train with, maybe get some sparring sessions in.

— BONY (@JonnyBones) November 7, 2021