Jon Jones Takes a Page From Israel Adesanya’s Book to Surprise Gable Steveson and Fans With OF Announcement

Jon Jones has always been unpredictable. From shocking the world with dominant title wins to stunning fans with abrupt retirements, the former UFC heavyweight champion thrives on keeping people guessing. But recently, he delivered a curveball on social media no one saw coming. Jones announced the launch of his OnlyF*** account, posting a short video that quickly went viral.

The clip posted on Instagram showed the man many consider the GOAT (not without controversy) lounging casually, feet crossed, nails painted black, while LeAnn Rimes’ ‘How Do I Live’ played in the background. The caption was simple, “Just started my only fans, link in bio.” For some, it was peak ‘Bones’ mischief. For others, it was a bizarre twist in a career already defined by unexpected turns.

The move immediately drew comparisons to Israel Adesanya, who famously painted his nails before stepping into the Octagon. During the UFC 271 embedded vlog, the former middleweight champion revealed, ”My nails are fresh. I mean, if you’re gonna put this in someone else’s face, on someone else’s mouth, it’d be rude not to paint them. So, I love the drip tips. Fashionable, vibey, and I call them, ‘kick em’ in the face, send them to space.’”

However, before he faced Sean Strickland at UFC 293, the outspoken ‘Tarzan’ had taken issue with the ritual. At the time, ‘The Last Stylebender’ responded with, “I’m not going to lose to an idiot. He says he’s not going to lose to a guy that j— off to cartoons or paints his nails. Well, I’m going to paint my nails for that fight and I’m going to knock him out with my painted nails.” Though Strickland went on to pull off the upset, Adesanya continued the tradition in his next outings, as well.

Now Jon Jones has seemingly stepped into that lane, albeit with his own eccentric twist. Yet, the post lands at an interesting point in ‘Bones’ career. Earlier this year, he vacated his heavyweight belt, briefly announcing retirement before reigniting hopes of one last run. Dana White has already ruled him out of the massive UFC White House card for 2026, but Jones has made no secret of his desire to be part of the historic event.

As such, with his future return to the UFC uncertain, Jones’ OnlyF*** move feels like a tongue-in-cheek reminder that he’ll continue to grab headlines, whether fighting or not. And the fans? Well, they had plenty to say as we now shift our focus over to their reactions!

Jon Jones’s painted toenails leave his protege and fans stunned with his recent OnlyF*** Announcement

“Put them thangs away!!!” That reaction came from none other than Gable Steveson. As co-owner of Dirty Boxing, Jon Jones has taken on a coaching role for the Olympic wrestling star who recently made a successful MMA debut at LFA 217, and is now looking to put his skills to the test in the DBX Arena. In fact, Jones even recently predicted Steveson’s chances of securing a UFC title in the future, writing on X, “It’s not a matter of if he can, it’s a matter of when, I’ve had many great teammates over the years, but I’ve always said if I would ever be a coach it would have to be a Wrestler who was completely committed to success. I found my guy and I’m excited to add world championship coach to my resume.”

Another fan commented, “The greatest UFC fighter of all time btw.” Despite the strangeness of the post, respect for Jones’ career remains intact. Fans still see him as the GOAT, no matter how unconventional his online antics may be. It highlights the paradox of the UF star, polarizing outside the cage, untouchable inside it.

Someone else pointed out, “To think that those feet with painted nails were the terror of several legs and ribs.” This reaction tied humor to history. Jones’ leg kicks and oblique stomps were once feared weapons. Now, those same tools are framed in a completely different, almost comical light!

One fan brought up history as they wrote, “I’ll never forget that time you broke your toe during the Chael Sonnen fight. The pain must’ve been excruciating.” Longtime fans still remember the gruesome toe injury he suffered against Chael Sonnen at UFC 159 back in 2013. His toe bent back nearly off the bone, threatening to end the fight and possibly his championship reign. Jones later admitted he hadn’t even noticed the break until adrenaline wore off.  To think that the same feet once bloodied in title wars are now being showcased with painted nails on OnlyF***!

Another simply wrote, “Hey Jon, what in the blue hell is this.” That line spoke for many who were simply stunned. Jon Jones has been unpredictable before, but this move caught fans entirely off guard. Sometimes, confusion is the only honest reaction.

And finally, one fan advised, “You can still delete this bro.” Not everyone was on board. Some viewed the post as too strange, even for Jones. But knowing his history, deletion seems unlikely. If anything, the backlash might only fuel him.

As such, by borrowing a page from Israel Adesanya’s nail-polish playbook and adding his own bizarre twist with an OnlyF*** debut, Jones reminded the MMA world that he’ll always find a way to stay in the spotlight. Whether fans laughed, cringed, or shook their heads, they all paid attention, and that’s exactly what ‘Bones’ thrives on.

The post Jon Jones Takes a Page From Israel Adesanya’s Book to Surprise Gable Steveson and Fans With OF Announcement appeared first on EssentiallySports.