Jon Jones has offered his perspective on the circumstances leading to his retirement, specifically addressing the ongoing narrative surrounding Tom Aspinall.
The former two-division UFC champion recently concluded his fighting career at age 37, leaving behind a formidable legacy in the sport. However, his retirement also raised questions, particularly concerning the unresolved tension with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Before retiring, Jones held the undisputed heavyweight title and faced significant criticism for not agreeing to face Aspinall, who has now become the undisputed champion following Jones`s exit.
Via social media posts on Friday, Jones responded to the situation, asserting that he was not responsible for the highly anticipated heavyweight title unification bout failing to materialize.
In a post that has since been removed, Jones stated, “If the fight was done, trust me, I would be fighting. Did we start negotiating at one point yes, but it was never done. My job at the time was to sit back and be quiet about it and that’s exactly what I did. I was enjoying my life that should’ve been obvious to you guys.”
It should be noted that Jones had previously commented publicly on his interactions with Aspinall, including a notable instance of leaving a derogatory remark on Aspinall`s Instagram.
Jones also added in a later message, “I was told 1,000 times to just reconsider and just give it more time. That’s the truth.”
UFC CEO Dana White has presented a different account, suggesting that the fight between Jones and Aspinall was a finalized deal, but Jones ultimately “changed his mind” and opted to retire instead. Aspinall, for his part, maintains that while he remains open to a fight with Jones in the future, his immediate focus is on defending the heavyweight title against active contenders.
Jones posted several more messages on Friday, defending his career accomplishments and addressing comments from online critics he referred to as “trolls.” He highlighted his record, noting he possesses more championships than both Aspinall and another unnamed fighter combined, implying his achievements justify his decision to hang up his gloves.
Marcus Blakely