All this time ready, and the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall struggle is not going to come to move.
On the UFC Baku Submit-Battle Press Convention, UFC CEO and President Dana White formally declared the standing of Jon Jones as “retired,” formally ending Jones’ two-year run because the UFC heavyweight champion.
Because of this, the UFC head honcho has introduced, Tom Aspinall, who was the interim UFC heavyweight champion, will now be elevated to undisputed champion.
“Jon Jones known as us final night time and retired,” White mentioned. “Jon Jones is formally retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”
TOM ASPINALL IS THE OFFICIAL HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP@DanaWhite has introduced that Jon Jones has RETIRED, thus elevating @AspinallMMA to turn into the heavyweight champ
pic.twitter.com/oJ8a9nl8KT
— UFC (@ufc) June 21, 2025
Tom Aspinall Named New Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion Following Jon Jones Retirement
Since Aspinall’s interim title win, talks have circulated round a possible undisputed title struggle between Jones and Aspinall — with these talks intensifying after Jones’ win over Miocic. Fixed debates had been had over if Jones would truly take up the struggle.
Whereas there had been moments of hope — as an illustration, White claiming the struggle was practically signed — there had been loads of moments that confirmed the struggle may not occur. Situations included Aspinall’s “duck” callout earlier within the 12 months at UFC London, in addition to Aspinall’s father berating Jones and his workforce about dragging out negotiations.
Simply a few days in the past, Jones appeared on the Full Ship Podcast and said that he’s at some extent the place he doesn’t care about preventing.
“I’m retired,” Jones mentioned. “Proper now, I might actually care much less about preventing. I’ve been doing all of it my life at a really excessive degree. When the itch comes again, if it comes again, then I’ll do it with my complete coronary heart, and I’ll do it to the perfect of my skills.”
Jon Jones says he has little interest in preventing proper now:“Proper now, I might actually care much less about preventing… When the itch comes again, if it comes again, then I’ll do it with my complete coronary heart.”
@fullsendpodcast #UFC #MMApic.twitter.com/2n6gkuO58r
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 19, 2025
Jones had been heavyweight champion since submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 — which marked his first struggle within the UFC after vacating the UFC mild heavyweight championship — a division that Jones dominated all through the 2010s — three years prior.
Jones solely made one protection of the championship, defeating former champion Stipe Miocic in the primary occasion of UFC 309 this previous November. The 2 had been scheduled to fulfill at UFC 295 the earlier 12 months, additionally at Madison Sq. Backyard, earlier than a torn pec put Jones on the shelf.
It was at that UFC 295 card the place Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich to turn into interim heavyweight champion. He defended the interim title in a uncommon feat at UFC 304, scoring a first-round end of Curtis Blaydes.
