Tom Aspinall's First Words in Reaction to Jon Jones' Announcement
UFC heavyweight Tom Aspinall didn't need to fight Jon Jones to get the belt he was after.
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Following UFC Baku on Saturday, June 21, Dana White confirmed that Jones had officially retired, making Aspinall the new undisputed UFC heavyweight champion amid a rather confusing night in Europe.
The announcement brings closure to one of the most prolonged storylines in the division, even though it has featured no action inside the Octagon.
'Jon Jones called us last night and retired,' White said. 'Jon Jones is officially retired, and Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.'
Aspinall, who had held the interim title since 2023, shared his response in a short message posted to Instagram while taking a subtle shot at Jones for delaying things so much before ultimately hanging up his gloves.
'For you fans,' Aspinall wrote. 'It's time to get this heavyweight division going. An active undisputed champion.'
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Aspinall's post marks the end of a two-year standoff between Aspinall and Jones. Jones had publicly dismissed the idea of a unification bout multiple times, despite Aspinall compiling an 8–1 UFC record at heavyweight and defending the interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
A Jones-Aspinall clash never materialized, and with Jones' retirement now confirmed, Aspinall assumes full control of the division he's long sought to conquer.
Tom Aspinall prior to a UFC fight at O2 Arena.Per Haljestam-Imagn Images
Aspinall has stayed mostly quiet during the wait, hinting at potential announcements but never getting quite there, opting to let the belt and his résumé speak and putting the ball on Jones' court.
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Now, contenders like Jailton Almeida, Ciryl Gane, and Alex Pereira are circling the new champion and are expected to enter conversations with the UFC for the first title defense in Aspinall's reign as the heavyweight champion, even if he never quite won the belt proper.
Related: UFC World Reacts to Jon Jones' Unexpected Retirement
Related: Jon Jones' Major Retirement Decision Sparks Confusion
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
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