In a stunning turn of events, UFC legend Jon “Bones” Jones has officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, marking the end of one of the most dominant and controversial careers in combat sports history.

The announcement came on June 21, 2025, via UFC President Dana White, who addressed the press following the UFC Fight Night card in Baku, Azerbaijan. White revealed that Jones had called the UFC the night before and informed them of his decision to retire.

“Jon Jones called us last night and retired. Jon Jones is officially retired,” White said. “Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”


Jones later confirmed the news on social media, saying:

“Today, I’m officially announcing my retirement from the UFC. This decision comes after a lot of reflection… MMA will always be a part of who I am, but I believe this is the right time to close this chapter.”


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A Career That Rewrote the Record Books

Jon Jones, now 37, retires as arguably the most accomplished fighter in UFC history. He first captured the UFC light heavyweight title in 2011 at just 23 years old, becoming the youngest champion in the promotion’s history. Over the course of his career, he compiled a record of 28 wins, 1 loss, and 1 no-contest—with his only defeat coming via disqualification in a fight he was dominating.

Jones successfully defended the light heavyweight title a record-setting 11 times, defeating some of the division’s most feared names Daniel Cormier, Alexander Gustafsson, Glover Teixeira, and Lyoto Machida among them.

In 2023, after a three-year hiatus, Jones returned to the Octagon at heavyweight and captured the vacant title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. However, injuries and setbacks limited his activity in the division, and his much-anticipated fight against former champion Stipe Miocic, scheduled for late 2023, was postponed due to a pectoral injury.

The duo soon met in the octagon, UFC 309 in November, 2024 with Jons ending the bout with a spinning heel to the body of Stipe to remain the undisputed heavyweight champion of the UFC. He hasn’t fought since then.

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The Fight That Never Was: Jones vs. Aspinall

The timing of Jones’s retirement has raised eyebrows across the MMA world, particularly because the UFC had just finalized plans for a title unification bout between Jones and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, scheduled for UFC 309 in November 2025 at Madison Square Garden.

According to Dana White, the fight deal was done.

“We had it. We were locked in for November. Everyone agreed. Then he calls me Friday night and says, ‘I think I’m done. I want to retire.’ I respect it.”


Jones’s sudden departure from competition has led to immediate consequences: Aspinall, who won the interim title in 2023 and defended it earlier this year, has now been promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

Aspinall, 32, responded with class and excitement.

“It’s an honor. Jon Jones is one of the greatest to ever do it. If he’s done, I wish him well. If not, I’ll be waiting.”


Legal Troubles and Speculation

Adding a layer of complexity to the retirement announcement is a recent misdemeanor criminal charge Jones is facing in New Mexico. Just days before his call to Dana White, Jones was charged with fleeing the scene of an accident. According to the police report, an unidentified intoxicated woman was found partially undressed in Jones’s vehicle.

White acknowledged that the timing of the charges and Jones’s retirement would naturally raise speculation.

“I didn’t even know about the charges until after he called me. People will think that’s why he retired. Maybe it is. But I’ve also seen Jon walk away before. This time, it sounded different.”


Jones has not publicly addressed the legal issue, but his retirement statement focused solely on his legacy and gratitude for the sport.

A Complicated Legacy

Jon Jones leaves behind a legacy that is both unmatched in the cage and riddled with controversy outside of it. From failed drug tests to multiple run-ins with the law, including a 2015 hit-and-run incident, Jones’s career was as tumultuous as it was successful.

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Despite his troubles, many fans and analysts still regard Jones as the greatest MMA fighter of all time. His ability to neutralize elite competition across generations, combined with his adaptability and fight IQ, made him a puzzle no one could solve in the Octagon.

Former opponents, fighters, and fans have taken to social media to pay tribute. Daniel Cormier, his longtime rival, simply posted: “If it’s truly over, respect. You were a beast.”

A New Era Begins

With Jones gone, the heavyweight division enters a new phase under Tom Aspinall’s leadership. Aspinall becomes the first British fighter to hold the undisputed UFC heavyweight title and is widely seen as one of the most dynamic big men in the sport—known for his speed, footwork, and finishing ability.

Interestingly, Jones’s retirement also leaves the UFC without a single American male champion for the first time in over 20 years. Champions now hail from the UK (Aspinall), Brazil, Russia, South Africa, Georgia, Australia, and Dagestan.

Final Thoughts

Jon Jones’s retirement marks the end of an era in the UFC. Love him or loathe him, his influence on the sport is undeniable. From his record-breaking dominance to his often chaotic personal life, Jones was the rare athlete whose every move generated headlines.

Whether this retirement is permanent remains to be seen—after all, Jones has teased walking away in the past. But if it is truly the end, then MMA fans have witnessed the rise, fall, and legacy of a fighter whose greatness inside the Octagon may never be replicated.

For now, Jon “Bones” Jones walks away, undefeated by any man in the Octagon, with a resume as towering as his mystique.

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