MMA legend Jon Jones retires, leaves behind an iconic UFC legacy

 One of the most iconic figures in mixed martial arts history is hanging up his gloves.

Jon “Bones” Jones, widely considered the greatest MMA fighter of all time, has officially retired, UFC president Dana White confirmed at a press conference on Saturday, June 21.

“Jon Jones called us last night and retired. Jon Jones has officially retired,” White announced.

“Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC,” he added.

Jones, 37, later confirmed his retirement, posting on X that “this decision comes after a lot of reflection.”

“I’m excited to see how I can continue to contribute to the sport and inspire others in new ways,” he said in his statement. “Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey with me. The best is yet to come,” Jones wrote in his post.

Discussing the future of the heavyweight division, White confirmed that Tom Aspinall will attend UFC International Fight Week, where crucial decisions about the division’s direction will be made.

The highly anticipated prospect of a showdown between Aspinall and Jones has been a major topic within the heavyweight division for months, particularly following Jones' successful title defense against Stipe Miocic in November.

Fan demand for the matchup reached a crescendo; a recent petition calling for White to strip Jones of his heavyweight title amassed over 195,000 signatures—a clear indication of public sentiment.

Just two weeks ago, White expressed confidence that the fight would happen, revealing that Jones had accepted a deal to face Aspinall, although the contract had yet to be finalized.

Jones acknowledged that he doesn’t control the division's direction, admitting he hasn't mapped out his future plans. He even floated the idea of challenging former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou—a scenario White promptly dismissed. This back-and-forth only adds to the intrigue surrounding both fighters and the heavyweight landscape.

“Tom Aspinall is the guy. We’ve been talking to this kid forever about it. It’s his fight. You can’t make people fight. If Jon doesn’t want to fight, we can’t make him fight. We can try to make him fight, we can throw things at him that inspire him to want to fight,” White added.

Just weeks ago, speculation remained high, with White saying Jones had verbally accepted a bout against Aspinall. Meanwhile, the fan petition calling for Jones to be stripped of his title had amassed over 195,000 signatures, signaling growing frustration over the heavyweight stalemate.

While he steps away from active competition, Jones hinted at continued involvement in the sport in a new capacity, suggesting that his journey is far from over—just entering a new phase.

Whether through mentorship, promotion, or advocacy, Jones’ influence on MMA is likely to endure far beyond his final walk to the Octagon.