Jon Jones Retires, Tom Aspinall Becomes Undisputed Heavyweight Champion

Jon Jones has announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, ending a controversial career with a 28-1 record and 16 title fights. He was the UFC's light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion, becoming the youngest champion in UFC history at 23. The announcement was made after his win over Stipe Miocic in November. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall has been upgraded to undisputed heavyweight champion.

Mixed martial arts legend Jon Jones has announced his retirement, marking the end of a controversial yet highly successful career. Jones, a two-time UFC champion, retired following his win over Stipe Miocic in November 2024. The announcement was made by UFC President Dana White during a press conference in Baku, Azerbaijan [1].

Jones, who turns 38 on July 19, compiled a 28-1 record (11 TKOs) in his career, winning six consecutive bouts since a no contest with Daniel Cormier in 2017. He became the youngest UFC titleholder at age 23 with a win over Mauricio Rua for the 205-pound crown. Jones was the UFC's light-heavyweight and heavyweight champion, a feat achieved by few fighters in the sport's history [3].

Jones' retirement comes after a period of inactivity and speculation about his willingness to face Tom Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champion. Aspinall, who had been vocal about his desire to face Jones, was elevated to the undisputed heavyweight title following Jones' announcement [1].

Aspinall, a 32-year-old Englishman, posted a message on Instagram after White's announcement, expressing his enthusiasm for the future of the heavyweight division. "For you fans. It’s time to get this heavyweight division going," Aspinall wrote. "An active undisputed champion" [3].

Jones' retirement adds another chapter to the rich history of the UFC. His career was marked by both remarkable achievements and controversies, including legal issues and a year-long suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Despite these challenges, Jones' impact on the sport remains undeniable [3].

The UFC's latest event in Baku, Azerbaijan, also saw several other notable fights. Khalil Rountree Jr. defeated former light heavyweight champion Jamahal Hill via unanimous decision, improving his record to 15-6 with 1 NC. Other main card winners included Rafael Fiziev, Curtis Blaydes, and Myktybek Orolbai [2].

References:
[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ufc/2025/06/21/jon-jones-retires-dana-white-tom-aspinall-ufc/84303117007/
[2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/ufc-baku-results-rountree-jr-vs-jamahal-fight-night-highlights-and-main-card-winners/articleshow/122000828.cms
[3] https://sportstar.thehindu.com/other-sports/jon-jones-retires-ufc-dana-white-press-conference-tom-aspinall-new-heavyweight-champion/article69723579.ece