Written by Betsalel Shafa

A couple days ago, Dana White announced Jon Jones’ retirement during a press conference in Baku. Jones had  personally called the UFC on Friday to inform them of his decision to retire. His last fight was against Stipe Miocic in November 2024, which he won. His competitor, Tom Aspinall won the interim heavyweight title in November 2023, and with Jones’ departure, Aspinall is officially the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion. Dana White confirmed this in the press conference and even praised Aspinall. The UFC executives will meet with Aspinall during International Fight Week to plan his first title defense. This promotion will aim to build momentum around the defence of Aspinall’s title and new matchups. The top contenders for heavyweight title are Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov, and Sergei Pavlovich. In the end of the day, Jon Jones’ retirement closes a legendary chapter in UFC history. He had left behind a legacy as a two-division champion and is recognized as one of MMA’s all-time greats. Tom Aspinall now leads a fresh generation in the heavyweight division and I am excited to see what he has to offer in the new matchups.