UFC News & FeaturesDana White Announces Jon Jones' Retirement; Promotes Tom Aspinall to Champion
It started with a bang and went out with a whimper.
After months of flirting with the idea, Jon Jones, the reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight king, has officially retired, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
“Jon Jones called us last night and retired,” White announced at
the
UFC Baku post-fight press conference. “Jon Jones is officially
retired and Tom
Aspinall is now the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”
The news out of Baku, Azerbaijan, is stunning to mixed martial arts fans around the world. Despite Jones mentioning his lack of desire to fight and long periodic stretches of inactivity, fans were determined to see Jones defend his UFC heavyweight championship against the interim champion, Aspinall.
Jones was the longest reigning heavyweight champion at 840 days, while Aspinall has held the interim title since Nov. 2023. Aspinall has been consistent in calling out Jones for a unification bout, while Jones has dismissed him as a challenger at every opportunity. Fans have called for Jones to be stripped of the title for blatantly refusing to fight Aspinall, but Jones has taken the decision out of the UFC’s hands and decided to retire on his own accord.
Jones (28-1, 1 NC) retires as one of the UFC’s most important and divisive figures. Many fans regard him as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, but consistent troubles outside of the cage and failed performance-enhancing drug tests have split the fanbases. This isn’t the first time that Jones has taken a hiatus from the sport and fans will eagerly wait to see if he sticks with his decision.
With Jones' retirement official, Aspinall (15-3) has been promoted to the undisputed champion. Aspinall claimed the interim title with a first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich on Nov. 11, 2023 and defended last July against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall, 32, has stayed inactive in his pursuit of Jones, but with this promotion, the UFC is sure to get him in the Octagon as soon as possible.
After months of flirting with the idea, Jon Jones, the reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight king, has officially retired, according to UFC CEO Dana White.
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The news out of Baku, Azerbaijan, is stunning to mixed martial arts fans around the world. Despite Jones mentioning his lack of desire to fight and long periodic stretches of inactivity, fans were determined to see Jones defend his UFC heavyweight championship against the interim champion, Aspinall.
Jones was the longest reigning heavyweight champion at 840 days, while Aspinall has held the interim title since Nov. 2023. Aspinall has been consistent in calling out Jones for a unification bout, while Jones has dismissed him as a challenger at every opportunity. Fans have called for Jones to be stripped of the title for blatantly refusing to fight Aspinall, but Jones has taken the decision out of the UFC’s hands and decided to retire on his own accord.
Jones (28-1, 1 NC) retires as one of the UFC’s most important and divisive figures. Many fans regard him as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, but consistent troubles outside of the cage and failed performance-enhancing drug tests have split the fanbases. This isn’t the first time that Jones has taken a hiatus from the sport and fans will eagerly wait to see if he sticks with his decision.
With Jones' retirement official, Aspinall (15-3) has been promoted to the undisputed champion. Aspinall claimed the interim title with a first-round knockout of Sergei Pavlovich on Nov. 11, 2023 and defended last July against Curtis Blaydes. Aspinall, 32, has stayed inactive in his pursuit of Jones, but with this promotion, the UFC is sure to get him in the Octagon as soon as possible.
🚨 TOM ASPINALL IS THE OFFICIAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP@DanaWhite has announced that Jon Jones has RETIRED, thus elevating @AspinallMMA to become the heavyweight champ 🏆 pic.twitter.com/oJ8a9nl8KT
— UFC (@ufc) June 21, 2025
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