Jon Jones, widely regarded as the greatest mixed martial artist of all time, has officially retired from the sport.
The 37-year-old American informed the UFC of his decision on Friday, according to CEO Dana White. His retirement means Britain’s Tom Aspinall is now the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, after holding the interim title since 2023.
“Jon Jones called us last night and retired,” White said during a press conference in Azerbaijan. “Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”
White confirmed that the organisation would begin planning Aspinall’s first title defence in the coming week.
Jones later confirmed the news with a social media post, writing, “This decision comes after a lot of reflection, and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the journey I’ve experienced over the years.” He ended the message with, “MMA will always be a part of who I am, and I’m excited to see how I can continue to contribute to the sport and inspire others in new ways.”
Jones (28-1) moved up from the light heavyweight division in 2023 and captured the vacant heavyweight title by defeating Ciryl Gane. He made one defence of that belt, stopping Stipe Miocic in the third round at UFC 309 in November.
A unification fight between Jones and Aspinall had been heavily anticipated. Many fans considered it a must-see showdown, but Jones showed little interest in the matchup. He repeatedly claimed a win over Aspinall would not have added to his legacy. His stance led to frustration among fans and fighters, with some accusing him of avoiding the challenge. An online petition calling for the UFC to strip him of the title attracted nearly 200,000 signatures.
“I obviously feel bad for Tom that he lost all that time and money, but we’ll make it up to him,” said White. “Tom Aspinall is a good guy. He’s been incredible through this whole process that we’ve gone through. He’s been willing to do anything — fight him anywhere and anytime and do this, and now he’s like, ‘I’ll fight anybody. You tell me who, and I’ll fight him.’ So Aspinall has been great. He’s going to be a great heavyweight champion for us, and I’m excited to work with him.”
Jones, who trains out of Albuquerque, New Mexico, made history in 2011 by becoming the youngest UFC champion ever at just 21. He went undefeated in 16 championship bouts and is one of only nine fighters to hold titles in multiple UFC divisions. His 22 wins rank him among the most successful in UFC history.
Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images
