Jon Jones has relinquished his UFC heavyweight championship and announced his retirement from mixed martial arts.
The 37-year-old was expected to face Britain`s Tom Aspinall in a major title unification bout following his victory over Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden last November.
Jones agreed to the historic showdown after the UFC met his demands for a significant payday, but soon began considering retirement.
The former pound-for-pound king has now decided to end his distinguished but controversial career without ever competing against Aspinall.
UFC President Dana White confirmed Jones` retirement early in the morning.
He stated: “Jon Jones contacted us last night and retired.
“Jon Jones is officially retired, and Tom Aspinall is the UFC heavyweight champion.”
Jones confirmed his retirement in a lengthy statement on X, writing:
“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.
From the first time I stepped into the Octagon, my goal was to push the boundaries of what was possible in this sport.
Becoming the youngest UFC champion in history, defending my title against some of the best fighters in the world, and sharing unforgettable moments with fans across the globe—these are memories I’ll cherish forever.
I’ve faced incredible highs and some tough lows, but every challenge has taught me something valuable and made me stronger, both as a fighter and as a person.
I want to thank the UFC, Dana, Hunter, Lorenzo, God, my family, coaches, teammates, and all the fans who have stood by me through every chapter.
Your unwavering support and belief in me have been my foundation.
To my fellow fighters, thank you for bringing out the best in me and for the respect we’ve shared inside and outside the cage.
As I close this chapter of my life, I look forward to new opportunities and challenges ahead.
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.
Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey with me. The best is yet to come.”
Tom Aspinall, the 31-year-old fighter from Wigan, commented on Instagram about becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion.
He wrote: “For you fans, it`s time to make this heavyweight division active. An active undisputed champion.”
Jones will be remembered as one of, if not *the*, greatest mixed martial artist in history.
He began his professional MMA career in 2008, entering the UFC after only six fights and just eight months of training.
He captured the light heavyweight title in just his ninth UFC fight, defeating Pride and MMA legend Mauricio `Shogun` Rua by first-round stoppage at UFC 128 in New Jersey, becoming the youngest champion in the promotion`s history at 23.
This was followed by a historic series of title defenses where he dominated former champions like Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, Vitor Belfort, and Glover Teixeira, alongside wins against Chael Sonnen, Alexander Gustafsson, and fierce rival Daniel Cormier.
He was stripped of the 205lbs belt in April 2015 due to his involvement in a felony hit-and-run incident but regained it by brutally knocking out Cormier in their rematch in the summer of 2017.
However, a second failed drug test (the first had derailed a planned UFC 200 fight with Cormier) led to him being stripped of the belt again, with the fight against Cormier ruled a no contest.
Similar to his first anti-doping issue, he was later cleared by an independent arbitrator of intentionally consuming the prohibited substance found in his system.
He regained the light heavyweight title with a dominant win over Gustafsson in their December 2018 rematch, followed by three more title defenses against Anthony Smith, Thiago Santos, and Dominick Reyes, before vacating the belt in February 2020 to make a much-anticipated move to heavyweight.
He returned to the octagon three years later to contend for the vacant heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane, becoming a two-division champion by submitting the Frenchman in the first round.
UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden last November marked the final performance of Jones` likely Hall of Fame career, ending with a stunning spinning back elbow TKO victory over former champion Stipe Miocic.
Jones` career achievements are unparalleled, and his legacy in the sport may never be equaled.
However, his career is marked by asterisks due to anti-doping violations (for which he was later cleared of intentional wrongdoing) and numerous incidents outside the octagon.
These include multiple DUI arrests, a felony hit-and-run, alleged battery involving a cocktail waitress, and a domestic violence allegation against the mother of his children just hours after his UFC Hall of Fame induction.
He concludes his career with a record of 28 wins and one loss, that sole defeat coming via a controversial disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009.
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