Jon Jones, a legend in mixed martial arts, retired and the interim champion in heavy weight Tom Aspinall was promoted to the undisputed title holder, said Saturday President UFC and CEO Dana White.
“Jon Jones called us yesterday and retired,” White said during a press conference in Azerbaijan, where the UFC combat night took place. “Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is a UFC champion in heavy weight.”
?? Tom Aspinall is an official heavyweight champion@Danhite announced that Jon Jones retired and so promoted @Aspinallmma become a champion in heavy weight ?? pic.twitter.com/oj8a9nl8kt– UFC (@UFC) June 21, 2025
Jones, who turns 38 on July 19, compiled a record of 28-1 (11 tkos) when capturing UFC titles in a light heavy weight and heavy weight. He was in the queue for a highly anticipated match with Aspinal, 32, which became a temporary UFC champion in November 2023, when the wounded Jones could not fight.
The Englishman aspinall (15-3 MMA, 11 tkos, 1 k0, 8-1 UFC) published a message on Instagram after White’s announcement.
“Fans for you. It’s the time for this heavyweight division to start,” wrote Aspinall, 32.
Jones last fought on November 16, 2024, won the third round over the stipe Miocic. Jones won six consecutive matches from the NO competition with Daniel Cormier on July 29, 2017.
White’s announcement faced Jones’s own words on Thursday when he appeared on the “full send” podcast.
“I don’t want to say I’m retired because fighting is in my blood,” Jones said on more media news at a podcast. “I could really take care of the fight right now. I have done it all my life at a very high level and when itching returns – and if it comes back – then I will do it with all my heart, I will do it best.”
“I think I will fight again. Where will the future of combat sports will be, it will be amazing to appear back.”
Jones had an Octagon chess, where he became the youngest holder of the UFC title at the age of 23 with a victory over Mauritio Ru for the crown of 205 pounds. Jones, who is 16-0 in UFC title matches, dealt with legal questions, in 2016 was a year-round suspension for testing positive to drugs increasing performance-the result that challenges.
Published:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
June 22, 2025
