Jon Jones Clarifies Future Fighting Status

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones addressed speculations about his retirement on Thursday, asserting that he has not retired and intends to compete again.

Jones captured the vacant heavyweight title by defeating Ciryl Gane via submission in the first round at UFC 285 in March 2023. He subsequently defended the title once against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024.

Concurrently, Tom Aspinall, Jones’s rival, secured the interim title by defeating Sergei Pavlovich while Jones was sidelined with an injury. Aspinall successfully defended the interim title in July 2024.

After an extended wait, Aspinall seems to have shifted his focus from a potential fight with Jones and is now pursuing his next opponent. Earlier this month, Aspinall released a statement suggesting that ‘Jones is retired’ and that he has a confirmed date and venue for his upcoming bout.

During a podcast appearance on Thursday, Jones reiterated his stance, stating that he is not retired and anticipates fighting again in the future.

Jones’ Perspective

“I don’t want to declare retirement, as fighting is integral to my being. Currently, I am not particularly concerned with fighting. I’ve dedicated my life to it at the highest level, and should the desire return – and if it does – I will commit wholeheartedly and perform to the best of my abilities,” Jones explained.

“I believe I will compete again in the future. The trajectory of combat sports is promising for when I make my return. However, at this moment, my focus is on other aspects of my life, such as family, building my house, and expanding my brand,” he concluded.