Did Jon Jones retire? Dana White announces that UFC, MMA legend calls it a career
Jon Jones is an MMA legend, as the 37-year-old has produced one of the most successful careers in UFC history.
However, even the legends must call it quits at some point, as it was only a matter of time before Jones walked away from the sport. Jones has fought just two UFC fights since 2020, winning them both to hold the UFC heavyweight champion title, but certainly slowing his career down. While he has been absent, other fighters have intermittently competed for an interim belt, waiting for Jones to either retire or return to the Octagon.
Here is the latest on Jones' career decision.
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Did Jon Jones retire?
Dana White announced on Saturday that Jon Jones, the UFC Heavyweight champion, is officially retiring from the sport. As a result, Tom Aspinall takes over as the new UFC heavyweight champion.
"Jon Jones called us last night and retired," White said in Baku. "Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC."
🚨 TOM ASPINALL IS THE OFFICIAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP@DanaWhite has announced that Jon Jones has RETIRED, thus elevating @AspinallMMA to become the heavyweight champ 🏆 pic.twitter.com/oJ8a9nl8KT
— UFC (@ufc) June 21, 2025
Jones has held the title of UFC heavyweight champion since 2023, when he defeated Cyril Gane via submission in a fight. He ends his career with a 28-1-0 record in UFC history, with his lone loss coming all the way back in 2009.
Jones most recently defeated Stipe Miocic in a fight last November, defeating the fighter by TKO.
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Who is the UFC heavywaight champion?
With Jones' retirement, Tom Aspinall, now the UFC heavyweight champion. Aspinall is 15-3 in his career and has won three-straight fights, most recently in July of last year against Curtis Blaydes.
Aspinall celebrated the news with a post on social media.
"For you fans. It’s time to get this Heavyweight division going," he wrote. "An active Undisputed Champion"
Dana White lamented how Aspinall become the UFC heavyweight champion but is excited to see him in action moving forward.
"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,'" White said, via ESPN. "So, Aspinall has been great. He's going to be a great heavyweight champion for us, and I'm excited to work with him."
Jon Jones career record
- 28-1
- 11 knockouts
- 7 submission victories
Jones' lone loss of his career was a disqualification against Matt Hamill at the season finale of the Ultimate Fighter 10. His final career fight was against Stipe Miocic. Jones knocked him out in the third round at UFC 309 to retain his title.
When Jones defeated Mauricio "Shogun" Rua in 2011, he became the youngest champion in UFC history at the age of 21. He is also one of nine fighters who have held UFC titles in multiple weight classes.