UFC 317: Ilia Topuria open to challenging Islam Makhachev for 170 belt
UFC 317 headliner Ilia Topuria talks to MMA Junkie and other reporters ahead of his vacant lightweight title bout vs. Charles Oliveira on June 28.
UFC President Dana White said Saturday that Jon Jones, the UFC heavyweight champ and former light heavyweight champion, has retired.
Tom Aspinall, the former interim champ, is now the UFC’s heavyweight champion, White said.
What was originally expected to be a confirmation of an expected fight between Jones and Aspinall turned into a highly unexpected affair. “Jon Jones called us last night and retired. Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC,” White said Saturday in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Jones had won the vacant heavyweight title in March 2023 with a submission win over Ciryl Gane. Jones had been three years removed from the sport at that time. He defended the title in November 2024, when he took down Stipe Miocic with a spinning back kick KO. However, Jones has since been MIA, emboldening a narrative that Jones was ducking the Aspinall fight.
Tom Aspinall wanted the fight
Aspinall, 32, had wanted to fight Jones, 37, for quite some time. He’d tried provoking Jones earlier this year, declaring himself the “rightful” heavyweight champ after Jones continued to delay a fight between them.
White had previously said that a fight between Aspinall and Jones was set but that the paperwork had not been signed. That statement was also the first time White warned Jones that he might be forced to relinquish his title. With Jones retiring, his title has been given to Aspinall.
Jon Jones’ latest comments on his status with UFC
After constantly delaying a fight with Aspinall, Jones eventually had to face the music and give fans a reason why he was avoiding the fight. Just a few days prior to White’s announcement, Jones had said on a podcast that he had no current interest in fighting.
“I don’t want to say I’m retired because fighting is in my blood. Right now, I could really care less about fighting,” said Jones. “I’ve been doing it my entire life at a very high level. When the itch comes back, and if it comes back, then I’ll do it with my whole heart. I’ll do it to the best of my abilities.”
