“UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has retired from mixed martial arts competition, making the former interim title-holder Tom Aspinall the undisputed heavyweight champion moving forward,” announced UFC President and CEO Dana White on Saturday during a press conference in Azerbaijan. Jones, who is 37 years old, informed the UFC of his decision to retire on Friday.
A New Era for the Heavyweight Division
This announcement marks the end of an era for Jones, widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. His career, spanning 17 years, saw him become the youngest UFC champion ever in the light heavyweight division at just 23 years old, and he later transitioned to heavyweight, capturing that title in 2023. Jones’ tenure as champion was marked by both incredible dominance and considerable controversy, including drug test failures and legal issues. His final fight was a victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024.
Tom Aspinall, a 32-year-old from England, previously held the interim UFC heavyweight championship. He earned this title by defeating Sergei Pavlovich in November 2023 and successfully defended it against Curtis Blaydes in July 2024. Aspinall’s reign as interim champion was the longest in UFC history, with him defending the belt multiple times. With Jones’ retirement, Aspinall now steps into the role of undisputed heavyweight champion, ready to lead the division into a new chapter.
The Road to Undisputed Championship
The transition to Aspinall as the undisputed champion comes after a period of speculation and anticipation regarding Jon Jones’ future. For months, there had been discussions and a desire to book a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall, but these plans never materialized due to various delays and Jones’ inactivity. UFC President Dana White had publicly stated that the UFC would move on if a fight between the two couldn’t be booked soon.
Aspinall, who had been vocal about the division’s stagnation, has consistently delivered impressive performances, with most of his UFC wins coming by first-round finishes. His ascent to undisputed champion signifies a significant achievement for the British fighter, who has been working towards this goal for a considerable time.
Looking Ahead
With Tom Aspinall now holding the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship, the focus shifts to his first title defense. While details regarding his next opponent and the date of his first defense have not yet been released, the UFC has indicated that they will work to make it up to Aspinall for the time he spent as interim champion. The heavyweight division is now poised for new challenges and exciting matchups under Aspinall’s leadership.
