Jon Jones, Iconic MMA Fighter, Announces Retirement

Jon Jones is retiring.

The 37-year-old fighter, considered among the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time, confirmed his retirement to Dana White in a phone call, the UFC chief executive said in a press conference Sunday (June 22).

“Jon Jones called us last night and retired. Jon Jones has officially retired,” he told reporters, responding to questions about the UFC heavyweight division amid waiting for Jon Jones decision to face Tom Aspinall in a unification fight.

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

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Jon confirmed the news himself afterward, saying “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,” he concluded. Read the full statement above.

The UFC head said that Tom will be attending UFC International Fight Week next week where they will “figure out what’s next.”

During his career, Jon Jones accumulated a 28-1-0 record, and became the youngest champion in UFC history at the age of 23. He won the UFC heavyweight title in 2023 following a three-year absence from the sport.

He also faced significant legal issues and two suspensions from the United States Anti-Doping Agency after testing positive for banned substances.

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