Quote from: pawel7777 on June 22, 2025, 03:49:12 PM

Quote from: tokeweed on June 22, 2025, 12:18:35 PM

(...)
And yeah.. Jon Jones just retired. Sad.

Yup. It's official. Dana has (casually) announced that in the post-event interview, confirming Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion.

Jon Jones has also made a statement on X:
https://x.com/JonnyBones/status/1936597970947834353

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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.

I want to thank the UFC, Dana, Hunter, Lorenzo, God, my family, coaches, teammates, and all the fans who have stood by me through every chapter. Your unwavering support and belief in me have been my foundation. To my fellow fighters, thank you for bringing out the best in me and for the respect we’ve shared inside and outside the cage.

As I close this chapter of my life, I look forward to new opportunities and challenges ahead. MMA will always be a part of who I am, and I’m excited to see how I can continue to contribute to the sport and inspire others in new ways. Thank you all for being part of this incredible journey with me. The best is yet to come.

Most of the comments are not favourable ones, which doesn't surprise me at all.
I don't blame him for retiring, if he doesn't feel like fighting anymore, he shouldn't. Nobody should be forced to put their health on the line. But he should've sat himself down and made up his mind much sooner than this. Dragging things for that long when he was not interested in having that fight was a d*ck move and a shameful way of finishing his career.

Jon has severely tarnished his legacy by running away from this fight. He would have had so much respect had he fought Tom and imagine if he even won? Being a duck is gonna haunt him forever now and that's all it can be called given Dana gave him the price he was looking for but still decided to turn it down. Something tells me he won't stay retired either. I'm not sure how he can retire either given he apparently signed an 8-fight deal a few years ago and only fought twice: https://www.mmamania.com/2023/1/15/23555954/jon-jones-new-eight-fight-contract-heavyweight-dana-white-espn-mma

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Another detail that White revealed to MMAmania.com was that Jones has signed a new eight-fight deal with the world’s leading mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion, meaning Jones, 35, will likely retire a UFC fighter.

If he is a free agent then maybe he could go over to the PFL to fight Nngannou but he spent years avoiding him too.