Dana White has revealed that Jon Jones has retired from the UFC in a bombshell announcement.
Jones, arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all time, was the promotion’s undisputed heavyweight champion but his title has now been passed to Tom Aspinall.
White made the announcement in an explosive press conference in Baku, Azerbaijan on Saturday.
He revealed Jones called on Friday night to inform White and UFC officials that he would not be fighting again.
Jones admitted earlier this week that he had no interest in fighting as he continued to stall on a bout with Aspinall.
Jones, who ends his career with a 28-1 career record, won the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023. But the 37-year-old has not fought since defending it in November against Stipe Miocic.
Aspinall has held the interim belt for 18 months but a unification fight between the two is yet to materialize. The delay led a number of fighters to call for Jones to be stripped of his title.
‘I don’t want to say that I’m retired because fighting is in my blood,’ Jones recently told the Full Send Podcast.
‘Right now, I could really care less about fighting… When the itch comes back, if it comes back, then I’ll do it with my whole heart.
White previously said that Jones had agreed to fight Aspinall but they were awaiting paperwork.
But his patience was wearing thin with the American and White set a deadline for the star to arrange the fight, which White described as the ‘biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history’.
White also revealed that the UFC will now work with Aspinall in the coming days to book his first title defense.
‘I obviously feel bad for Tom that he lost all that time and money, but we’ll make it up to him. Tom Aspinall is a good guy. He’s been incredible through this whole process that we’ve gone through,’ White said.
‘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.’
