Heavyweight champion Jon Jones has retired from the UFC and hopes of a blockbuster title unification superfight against Tom Aspinall have been dashed.
UFC president and CEO Dana White confirmed on Saturday that Jones, 37, has handed in his cards after months of speculation about the unification bout, much of it fanned by the heavyweight champ himself.
Jones held the UFC title belt for more than two years and retires having defended it only once, defeating fellow veteran Stipe Miocic last November.
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A series of retirement claims, apparent injury issues and persistent failures to reach an agreement on a deal have scuppered the fight that should have unified the belts against Englishman Aspinall, who won the interim heavyweight title by beating Sergei Pavlovich by knockout way back in November 2023.
He successfully defended the interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 nearly a year ago.
Only one fighter in UFC history has had to defend an interim title twice. By rights, Aspinall's next bout after Pavlovich should have been a showdown with Jones to unify the belts.
Despite the potential of a lucrative superfight against one of UFC's true greats, Aspinall told Mighty in May that he was only interested in the title.
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"I've been inactive for nearly a year. And I'm just being told to wait. I don't care about fighting Jon Jones, I just want to be the undisputed champion," said a frustrated Aspinall.
The 32-year-old now has his wish after White announced Jones' retirement and promoted Aspinall to undisputed heavyweight champion as a show of intent, with the CEO admitting the company owes its new top dog.
"Jon Jones called us last night and retired. Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC," White told the media in Baku on Saturday.
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"I obviously feel bad for Tom that he lost all that time and money, but we'll make it up to him.
"Tom Aspinall is a good guy. He's been incredible through this whole process that we've gone through. He's been willing to do anything – fight him anywhere at any time and do this.
"Now he's like, 'I'll fight anybody. Tell me who and I'll fight him.' Aspinall has been great. He's going to be a great heavyweight champion for us and I'm excited to work with him."
Aspinall and UFC will meet in Las Vegas this week to discuss what's next.
Topics: UFC, MMA, Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall
Chris Nee