Latest news with #UFC285
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dana White Reveals UFC 321 Heavyweight Main Event, Jon Jones Era Officially Over
Dana White Reveals UFC 321 Heavyweight Main Event, Jon Jones Era Officially Over originally appeared on Athlon Sports. When Dana White announced Jon Jones' retirement from the UFC, Tom Aspinall was immediately crowned the undisputed heavyweight champion. After going nearly a year without fighting, Aspinall revealed that he has lofty goals within the heavyweight division, and that includes defeating the entire top 10 roster. In an interview with UFC veteran Stefan Struve, Aspinall inched closer toward that goal, revealing that he had officially signed a contract. As to who his opponent would be, most MMA media believe it would be Ciryl Gane, who climbed back to title contention talks ever since his loss to Jones at UFC 285. Today, Dana White has announced a slew of title fights for the upcoming pay-per-view slate, including a heavyweight championship clash between Aspinall and Gane. He announced via Instagram Live, 'UFC 321, October 25th, Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. Tom Aspinall will face Ciryl Gane. Aspinall has 15 wins, and all of them are by finish. Gane is the no. 1-ranked heavyweight.' Watch the full announcement here: Initially, Aspinall was expected to unify the titles against Jones, but the former champion's inactivity left the division in limbo. Although Jones has recently announced his intentions of returning to the UFC for the White House pay-per-view event, the heavyweight champion, Aspinall, has a new opponent to train for currently in Gane. Now, Aspinall aims to prove he's more than a placeholder champion, while Gane seeks redemption after his previous title losses. Gane will be given another attempt at touching undisputed championship status after losing his last two title fights to Francis Ngannou and Jones. The rest of the card is expected to feature other high-profile bouts, with other fights yet to be announced. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 22, 2025, where it first appeared.
Time of India
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Is Jones another victim of 'success' like McGregor? Relapse, pot arrests, 14-day retirement U-turn, and overzealous patriotism expose the cracks in the greatest of all time
At 6 a.m. in Albuquerque, while most of the city is still asleep, Jon Jones is already pacing through the gym. Shadowboxing under flickering fluorescent lights, whispering affirmations to himself. 'Be the guy that embraces the ugly,' he repeats, a mantra that feels like both confession and commandment. It's been a recurring theme in Jon Jones's career: the collision of brilliance and chaos, greatness and scandal. There may be no figure in UFC history more complex than Jones, who, even in retirement limbo, continues to dominate headlines. And now, in the summer of 2025, with his name once again back in the USADA testing pool and rumors of a fight on the White House lawn for America250 next in July, 2026, the sport's ultimate anti-hero refuses to fade. — JonnyBones (@JonnyBones) Also read: UFC Fight Night Nashville: Live streaming of Lewis-Teixeira fight, Preview TV Channel, Start Time & Where The most gifted, and the most damaged Jones's body, as Joe Rogan once put it, seems engineered for violence. 'He's the guy at the back of the battlefield with a giant axe, slashing heads,' Rogan said on his podcast. 'Long arms, crazy reach, sensitive soul. That's the perfect killer.' With a reach of 84.5 inches and freakishly thin calves, often mocked, but a trait shared by elite sprinters, Jones doesn't look like a traditional bruiser. He glides more than he stomps, strikes with the mechanical timing of a metronome. And while his résumé boasts 28 wins, one loss, and one no-contest, it's the air of invincibility, the eerie calm before he strikes, that has long terrified opponents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Top 10 Most Beautiful Women In The World OMGIFacts Undo He holds the UFC record for most title defenses in light heavyweight history, totaling 14 if you include interim and undisputed belts. From defeating Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua at age 23 to stopping Ciryl Gane in the first round at UFC 285 in 2023 for the vacant heavyweight belt, Jones has stacked victories over two generations of fighters. Also read: Octagon heads to Doha as UFC to make Qatar debut this November Live Events But for every peak, there has been a plunge. A record with caveats In 2017, Jones tested positive for Turinabol after knocking out Daniel Cormier, a win later overturned to a no-contest. It was his second anti-doping violation, following a failed test in 2016. Though USADA ruled neither instance as intentional cheating, the stains lingered. Fans often invoke his controversial decisions over Dominick Reyes in 2020 and Alexander Gustafsson in 2013 as moments when the aura cracked. Even UFC President Dana White admitted Reyes might've deserved that win. Jones walked away from light heavyweight not long after, vacating the title in 2020, choosing instead to bulk up for a heavyweight debut that would come nearly three years later. And when it finally happened, a quick submission over Ciryl Gane, it didn't silence the critics. Why didn't he fight Francis Ngannou before the Cameroonian left the UFC? Why didn't he unify the belt with interim champ Tom Aspinall? Why did he announce retirement in June, 2025, only to re-enter the drug-testing pool just weeks later? 'I think I'm a bad guy trying to be good' Jon Jones' final message after his retirement was announced on June 21, by UFC President Dana White at UFC at ABC: Hill vs Rountree in Baku, Azerbaijan, through his X and reshared on June 22, by MMA veteran journalist, Ariel Helwani on his Facebook page Once, in a pre-fight interview, a reporter asked Jones if he was a good guy pretending to be bad or a bad guy pretending to be good. With a smirk, Jones paused, then said, 'That's a good question. I think I'm a bad guy trying to be good.' Before UFC 309, just months ago, he expanded on that. 'In Christianity, we believe we're born into sin,' he told reporters. 'I'm flawed. But I fight to be better.' That inner war, between salvation and self-sabotage, defines Jon Jones. Also read: 'I only died four times': Ex-UFC star Ben Askren shares shocking health update after double lung transplan The same man who's been arrested multiple times for DWI, domestic disputes, and weapons charges also once checked on Daniel Cormier after his mother passed. The same fighter who called himself 'God's champion' has also been accused of brutalizing those closest to him. In 2021, he allegedly assaulted his fiancée, leading to a public outcry and calls for the UFC to drop him. Police bodycam footage from Las Vegas showed Jones weeping in custody, pounding his chest, and repeating, 'I'm better than this.' Faith, family, and failure Jones's father was a pastor. His brothers, Chandler and Arthur, played in the NFL. Athletic dominance ran in the family, but so did expectations. Growing up in Endicott, New York, Jones often felt like he didn't belong. He moved to New Mexico to escape himself as much as anything, finding refuge in the cage. His gym became his church. 'I believe in the power of manifestation,' he often says. 'I see myself as world champion before I step in there.' But belief alone hasn't been enough to keep him steady. In between training camps and victories, he's admitted to battling addiction, depression, and impulses he doesn't always understand. He owns a Belgian Malinois, a breed used by elite military units, and trains it obsessively. The dog, often seen alongside him on hikes and shooting range sessions, is a symbol of control. He also owns multiple firearms and has shown them off on social media, drawing criticism but also reinforcing the mythos of the warrior preparing for war. What makes a legend? Jon Jones's legacy is complicated. Analysts like Luke Thomas call him 'the greatest skill-for-skill fighter we've ever seen,' while Ariel Helwani adds, 'But he might also be the most disappointing.' Brett Okamoto of ESPN summed it up best: 'If he were squeaky clean, there'd be no GOAT debate.' Indeed, what do we do with an athlete who broke every rule but never lost the game? Also read: Islam Makhachev's famous quote, 'Brahthar, send 2-3 years Dagestan and forget', staunch follower became un The UFC itself has leaned into the duality. Dana White famously said on the Full Send podcast: 'If two men walk into a room, one of them Jon Jones, the other anyone else, Jones walks out.' It was meant as praise, but fans online turned it into a meme, both for its absurdity and uncomfortable truth. 2026: a comeback or a curtain call? After President Dana White's vague post-fight press conference announcing the retirement of the most accomplished MMA fighter alive, ever (even according to him), at UFC on ABC: Hill vs. Rountree Jr. in Baku This elevated Tom Aspinall to be the current undisputed heavyweight champion. Jones posted a congratulatory message, but stayed quiet. Then came July 4. 'I'm back in the pool,' he tweeted, referencing USADA's mandatory six-month testing window. His reason? President Donald Trump had announced plans for a UFC event on the South Lawn of the White House for America's 250th anniversary in July, 2026. Jones wrote on X, 'The moment I heard Trump's announcement, I started training again. For me, it's about the opportunity to represent America at the White House. I don't care who I fight that night.' It was pure Jon, part patriot, part provocateur. The fighter we can't quit Whether he returns or not, Jon Jones occupies a strange space in American sports culture. He's the villain we can't stop watching, the prodigy who couldn't outrun his demons, the champ who never really lost, but always seemed to be losing something. At 37, his time at the top may be over. Or not. With whispers of a final bout against Aspinall, or even middleweight champion Alex Pereira, a fighter his own size, the door remains open. And maybe that's fitting. Because Jon Jones has never been about clean endings. He's about conflict, about the gray area. The walking contradiction who made fans question not just what a GOAT looks like, but what it should look like. AP Jones with President Trump after defeating Stipe Miocic by TKO, by way of, spinning back-kick to the liver at UFC 309 (November 17, 2024) Also read: UFC mixed martial arts legend, rape accused Conor McGregor faces major court hurdle before Ireland Preside In the end, we might not remember Jon Jones for the knockouts or title defenses. We might remember him for the questions he forced us to ask, about forgiveness, about greatness, and about whether a bad guy trying to be good is more honest than the ones who never admit they're bad at all.
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Feels Nice To Be The Hunter And Not The Hunted'
'Rule number one about fight club, never underestimate Jon Jones' - Jon Jones This past weekend, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Heavyweight champion Jones surprised fans with the announcement that he's seemingly no longer retired and has re-entered the drug testing pool, despite previously insisting he was done fighting and ready to hang up his gloves for good. Advertisement Today (Mon., July 7, 2025), 'Bones' posted on Twitter/X, basically claiming he's thrilled to no longer be the champion, embracing the role of a 'hunter' for the first time. 'It feels nice to be the hunter and not the hunted for once,' Jones wrote. Apparently, the former two-division champion has a selective memory. Just two years ago, he chased and won the Heavyweight title at UFC 285, defeating Ciryl Gane for the vacant belt (watch highlights)—not to mention the multiple times he fought for the Light Heavyweight title after being stripped. With the mind games Jones has played since defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last year (watch highlights), it's anyone's guess whether he'll truly return as a 'hunter.' He was adamant about retiring, yet now he's teasing a comeback—perhaps even angling for a headline-grabbing fight at the White House next year. Advertisement Only time will tell. To checkout UFC's upcoming schedule of events click here. More from
USA Today
25-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Henry Cejudo: How Tom Aspinall does vs. Ciryl Gane 'big indication' if Jon Jones returns
Henry Cejudo believes Tom Aspinall could potentially still lure Jon Jones out of retirement. Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) was promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion after Jones retired and relinquished the belt this past weekend. Many view No. 1 ranked and former interim champ Ciryl Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) as the frontrunner to challenge Aspinall next. Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) quickly submitted Gane to claim the vacant belt at UFC 285 in March 2023. Aspinall has finished all but one of his professional wins in the first round, and if he can do the same to Gane, Cejudo thinks that could impact Jones' future in the sport. "You give him the No.1 contender, Ciryl Gane," Cejudo said of Aspinall on his "Pound 4 Pound" podcast with Kamaru Usman. "Ciryl Gane is somebody that's a big heavyweight, that's very agile. I don't think Tom Aspinall gets rid of him right away like he has with other people, and I think that'll be a big indication on if Jon Jones wants to come back and reclaim that belt once again. Just to get a feel of what Tom is all about now that they have a mutual competitor." Cejudo's podcast host, Kamaru Usman, agreed that Gane should be next for Aspinall. "I think you're absolutely right, the fight that makes sense, Tom Aspinall-Ciryl Gane, let's make that happen," Usman said. "Ciryl Gane, people forget how fantastic he is, a guy that can kind of float around the octagon, touch you, kick you, hit you with elbows. He's just a complete game, so I think that is something that could potentially present dangers for a guy like Tom Aspinall, but man, Tom's movement, his boxing, his speed and his power. It's very, very difficult to doubt this man anymore."
USA Today
23-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jon Anik on Jon Jones retiring: 'A lot of public figures feel perpetually misunderstood'
Jon Anik is grateful for Jon Jones' time in the UFC. Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) has officially retired, relinquishing his UFC heavyweight title. The former two-division UFC champion has never lost a fight outside of a disqualification blemish in 2010. Anik, who has witnessed all of Jones' championship reign in the UFC, heaped praise on him as both a fighter and a person. "Congratulations to the 🐐, @jonnybones on accomplishing more as a mixed martial arts fighter than any man had prior! I met Jon in his hotel room in 2011, a few hours before he beat Shogun to become the youngest champion in UFC history. A lot of public figures feel perpetually misunderstood. Jones' infectious smile and presence cloaked the absolute killer that resided within. Over 15 years, I have witnessed this man's graciousness, kindness, and generosity with the UFC fan base. His success has helped push the UFC and MMA forward and, indirectly, he helped guys like me to make a living in the sport we all hold so dear. Look forward to seeing that grin and presence at @dirtyboxing soon, champ. Appreciate all the time, energy, and love over the years. You will be missed. -30-" Jones defended his UFC light heavyweight title a total of 11 times before opting to make the move up to heavyweight years later. He claimed the vacant belt with a quick finish of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, then successfully defended it against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, which would mark his final fight. "Bones" finds himself in legal trouble once again, with reports in Albuquerque accusing Jones of leaving the scene of an accident with a half-naked and intoxicated woman in the car. Jones' attorney says his client has been falsely accused and is being targeted by police.
