Jon Jones retires from UFC, Tom Aspinall named undisputed heavyweight champion

After months of uncertainty, fight fans finally know what the future of the UFC's heavyweight division has in store.

Jon Jones has officially retired from the sport, making the now-former interim title-holder Tom Aspinall the undisputed heavyweight champion moving forward, UFC president Dana White announced Saturday after a Fight Night card in Azerbaijan.

White added that Jones called him on Friday to inform the UFC of his decision.

Jones put out his own statement confirming his retirement later on Saturday.

"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," Jones wrote on his personal X account.

"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."

Jones also expressed his desire to continue to contribute to the sport of MMA.

"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."

The 37-year-old leaves the UFC with a 28-1-0 record, ranked as the promotion's No. 3 pound-for-pound fighter at the moment. He also leaves as one of the most decorated fighters in the promotion's history, a former two-time light heavyweight title-holder and youngest champion ever at 23 years old. He holds multiple records in the 205-pound division, including most title defences, most wins and longest win streak.

In 2023, following a three-year hiatus, "Bones" made his return to the UFC for his first-ever heavyweight fight. He went on to submit Ciryl Gane in the first round and claim the belt that had been vacated by Francis Ngannou just before. Jones then defended his belt against former long-time champion Stipe Miocic in 2024 after lengthy delays due to Miocic's injuries.

Seven months later, Jones has opted to call it quits.

His decision came not long after White publicly stated that the UFC would "move on quickly" if a fight between the heavyweight champion and interim title-holder Aspinall couldn't be booked soon.

It's been no secret that the Englishman has been keen on facing Jones. However, the UFC legend repeatedly downplayed Aspinall as a worthwhile opponent for what was to be his second title defence as a heavyweight.

“Do I regret the time that I gave him? White said Saturday when asked about letting Jones dictate the timeline for his future. "Listen, if you look at what he’s accomplished in the sport, no (I don’t regret it). It is what it is.”

Meanwhile, although Jones' decision comes as a shock to many, his waning interest in returning to the octagon was something he'd spoken about recently.

“I don’t want to say that I’m retired because fighting’s in my blood,” Jones said Thursday on the Full Send podcast. “Right now, I could really care less about fighting. I’ve been doing it my whole life at a very high level, and when the itch comes back, and if it comes back, then I’ll do it with my whole heart, do it to the best of my abilities.

And with that, Aspinall's official reign atop the heavyweight division begins.

The UFC hasn't divulged any details on when or against whom the 32-year-old might compete for his first title defence as the undisputed champ, but White said the promotion would reward his patience.

“I obviously feel bad for Tom that he lost all that time and obviously money, but we’ll make it up to him,” the UFC president explained.

“Tom Aspinall’s a good guy. He’s been incredible through this whole process that we’ve gone through. He’s been willing to do anything, fight (Jones) anywhere at any time, and do this, and now he’s like ‘I’ll fight anybody — you tell me who and I’ll fight them.’"

White said that the UFC plans to meet with Aspinall in Las Vegas next week to figure out what's next.

Aspinall earned the interim tag after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in late 2023. He then defended that title by avenging his lone UFC loss, beating Curtis Blaydes in the first round of their co-main bout in Aspinall's native Manchester last July.

His title reign starts with him holding a 15-3-0 record while riding a three-fight win streak — all by first-round finish. He's yet to get to the judge's scorecards in the UFC, win or lose, and hasn't needed more than two rounds for any of his eight victories under the banner.

“Aspinall’s been great," White added. "He’s going to be a great heavyweight champion for us. I’m excited to work with him.”