On Saturday night in Moscow, Russia, Jon Jones, the former two-weight UFC champion, experienced an awkward interaction with UFC heavyweight contender Sergei Pavlovich. The moment took place during an IBA Bare Knuckle boxing event, where footage captured Jones attempting to shake Pavlovich’s hand, only for the gesture to be ignored. This led to a flurry of reactions from UFC fans online, who quickly zeroed in on the handshake snub between the two heavyweight fighters.
Fans React with Humor to Jones’ Handshake Being Overlooked
Sergei Pavlovich shared the clip showing him and Jon Jones meeting, which many saw as a rare interaction between two prominent UFC heavyweights. However, viewers noticed that when Jones reached out to shake Pavlovich’s hand, Pavlovich did not respond, creating a moment of visible awkwardness. This sparked humorous and lively responses from fans, with one commenting,
“No way you snubbed my GOAT.”
Others questioned,
“Did he just ignore Jones’ handshake?”
while some fans found the incident amusing, saying,
“Bro completely ignored Jon Jones handshake,”
and “Faked him out.” Another expressed satisfaction, stating,
“This makes me so f—ing happy,”
and a separate fan added, “ABSOLUTELY MOGGED.”
The Status of Jon Jones’ MMA Career Amid Recent Interactions
Jon Jones had earlier announced his retirement from mixed martial arts in June, a decision he quickly reversed. The fighter has expressed his intention to return to competition, specifically aiming to fight at a UFC event scheduled for July 2026 at the White House. Despite Jones’ aspirations, UFC President Dana White recently dismissed the possibility of his comeback following UFC 318. White cited Jones’ withdrawal from a previous fight against heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall as a reason he could not risk placing Jones in prominent fights at this time. Though disappointed by White’s comments, Jones remains resolute about his goal of returning to the sport, making his retirement one of the shortest in MMA history.
Implications of the Pavlovich Snub and Jones’ Future
The handshake dismissal between Jon Jones and Sergei Pavlovich has given UFC fans a new talking point amid Jones’ uncertain future. The incident highlights ongoing tensions and rivalries within the heavyweight division, while Jones’ eagerness for a comeback continues to face hurdles from UFC leadership. Fans will be watching closely to see if Jones can overcome these challenges, secure fights, and ultimately reclaim his position in the heavyweight class.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. What did Jon Jones test positive for?
A. The hearing uncovered that Jones tested positive for clomiphene and letrozole metabolites. These substances are present in Tadalafil, a drug for erectile dysfunction that Jones admitted to using.
Q. What has Jon Jones tested positive for?
A. He was found to have Turinabol, a type of anabolic steroid, in his system. As a result, Jones was temporarily suspended.