Jon Jones announces his UFC retirement

The legendary Jon Jones, heavyweight champion of the UFC and widely considered to be the greatest MMA fighter of all time, has stepped away from the octagon for good.

After months of debate surrounding a title fight with interim (now undisputed) champion Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones has decided to call an end to a stunning career in the UFC which spanned 17 years.  The 37-year-old most recently fought and defended his title against Stipe Miocic in November, giving the American a combined 12 title defences across divisions, the most in UFC history.

Jones announced his retirement on social media, with a post stating: “Today, I'm officially announcing my retirement from the UFC. This decision comes after a lot of reflection and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the journey I've experienced over the years.

“From the first time I stepped into the Octagon, my goal was to push the boundaries of what was possible in this sport. Becoming the youngest UFC champion in history, defending my title against some of the best fighters in the world and sharing unforgettable moments with fans across the globe - these are memories I'll cherish forever.

“I've faced incredible highs and some tough lows, but every challenge has taught me something valuable and made me stronger, both as a fighter and as a person.”

In 2011, Jon “Bones” Jones became the youngest champion in UFC history after defeating Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in a light heavyweight bout, a belt which stayed with him until 2015, when it was stripped due to legal circumstances surrounding a hit-and-run.  After a 3 year break, Jones reclaimed the vacant light heavyweight belt, which was again vacated due to conditions outside of the Octagon.  Finally, Jones moved up to the heavyweight division and took the belt from Ciryl Gane in 2023, before voluntarily handing it to Tom Aspinall through his retirement.

  In fact, Jones only has one loss on his MMA record; a controversial disqualification for an illegal elbow against Matt Hamill, which both Hamill and UFC president Dana White strongly dispute.  Throughout his career, brutal elbows have become a signature part of Jones’ unorthodox fighting style, along with creative kicks and impeccable wrestling.  The two-division champion has tactically outsmarted almost every opponent he’s ever fought, and came back from multiple lengthy hiatuses without looking like he ever left.  For many, he is the best to ever do it, and for good reason.

For some, the controversies surrounding the mixed-martial arts career of Jon Jones will always hover over his legacy; hit-and-runs, doping and darker allegations aren’t easy to ignore, and nor should they be.  For others, recent events surrounding British heavyweight Tom Aspinall have left a sour taste in the mouths of fans, who claim that Aspinall’s career has been hindered by the refusal of Jones to defend his belt. 

Regardless, some things can’t be argued against; a 28-1 record with 12 title defences is one of these things.  Jones will inevitably be remembered for generations after his retirement, not only as one of the greatest MMA fighters to step into the Octagon, but also as one of the baddest men to ever live.