UFC President Dana White announced that Jon Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time, has officially retired from competition. The announcement came during a news conference in Azerbaijan on Saturday.
“Jon Jones called us last night and retired,” White stated plainly. “Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”
This unexpected turn of events follows months of speculation about Jones’ future in the sport, particularly regarding a potential showdown with Aspinall, a match that Jones had seemingly shown little interest in pursuing.
Jones later confirmed his retirement through social media, stating: “Today, I’m officially announcing my retirement from the UFC. 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.”
The timing of Jones’ retirement coincides with new legal troubles. A criminal summons was filed Tuesday in Metropolitan Court accusing the 37-year-old star of a misdemeanor charge of leaving the scene of an accident that allegedly occurred in February. Jones has been called to appear for a bond arraignment on July 24 in Metro Court.
According to court records, the incident involved a traffic crash near San Mateo and Lomas in Albuquerque, where Jones resides and trains. While there’s no indication that these legal issues are connected to his retirement decision, they add another chapter to Jones’ complicated legacy.
Jones’ last appearance in the Octagon was in November when he defeated Stipe Miocic for the heavyweight championship at Madison Square Garden before a star-studded audience that included Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
With Jones stepping away, Tom Aspinall immediately ascends to the throne as the undisputed heavyweight champion. The British star had been campaigning for a title shot against Jones, and now finds himself at the pinnacle of the division without having to face the legendary competitor.
