John jonesRetirement from mixed martial arts has made more and more unavoidable during this year. And yet, it still blinded the MMA world when UFC CEO Dana White broke the news on Saturday.
Month speculation about Jones’s future came to a sudden conclusion in Baku, Azerbaijan of all places, where UFC was hosting a battle night of a fight. White informed the world non -freely that the largest mixed martial artist of all time had retired, ending a potential heavyweight title unification bout between him. Tom aspinol,
“John Jones called us last night and retired,” White told a group of reporters when asked directly about Jones“John Jones is officially retired.”
For the beginning, what is a strange way to declare the conclusion of the greatest career in UFC history.
This was the complete opposite of the retirement of the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Champion Champion Champion in 2010 in 2010. The UFC brought Lidel to a news conference at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino lobby in Las Vegas, where he got an opportunity to announce and answered questions from the media.
UFC’s International Battle Week is in Las Vegas later this week, Jones is an ideal opportunity to give the same opportunity and spotlight. Why was he not? Something can be done with it Feeling Around the retirement of Jones, which is undeniably “despair”.
The fact that Jones is retiring as a heavyweight champion from UFC and is running away from integration bout against interim champion Espinol – which had the ability to be one of the biggest quarrels in UFC history – just so disappointing. Think about this that the game was waiting for Jones to go to the heavyweight, to take the challenge when he defeated almost every light heavyweight and defeated throughout his 15-fight title. For a fans conspiracy for a heavyweight run YearOnly it happens at the end and a little bit. Fight against a high growth rival in an empty title Cyril Gain In 2023, and a semi-retired, the same defense against 42-year-old Chicil Last year.
Now, here is the part that probably does not want to talk about fans and critics of Jones: he does not pay an aspinol fight to the world. He is not giving anything to the world. No one should blame him for a single decision he has done about the quarrels accepted in recent years, as they were all in their best interest as a champion. Any proper fighter must have made the same option.
He got to pick cherry to pick up which path he would take for a heavyweight championship, and he chose the least resistance with the gains. Then they were offered a very attractive trimming as Miocic (no disrespect for Miocic, but that Was Originally a retired fighter at that point), and Jones took it. As he needs.
The real misfire, however, has been in the last seven months. He refused to retire, but also refused to take any kind of understanding against Aspinol, and refused, almost surrounded his nose on the entire fanbase of UFC.
The result of that denial is that people will feel this “complete disappointment” and question its legacy, Which was already complicated by legal issues, several arrests and failed drug testsEven the news of retirement was breaking on Saturday, Albuquruck Journal reported In February, criminal allegations were filed against Jones on 17 June to release an accident scene.
But in Ashtakona, their records, their work body and their legacy are untouchables. No one should say that his fight resume has been ruined to refuse to fight aspinol. But because this saga lasted for so long and for such disappointing results, Jones has an additional punishment for heritage. And I think it would be permanently here: “Jones were the greatest fighters who ever lived. And he did not want to fight Tom Aspinol.”
Today, I am officially declaring my retirement from UFC. This decision comes after a lot of reflection, and I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the journey experienced over the years.
The first time I stepped into Ashtakona, my goal was …
– Johnny Meet (@jonnybones) June 22, 2025
Jones posted a retirement message on social media after White’s comments, but he was better than it. He is entitled to his own Las Vegas News Conference in the leadup of UFC 317 this week, as a single sentence spoken by White is not enough explanation at a news conference in Baku. One day when Jones’ career ended, we should talk about all the magical moments that he had done inside the Ashtakona, not a fight that he did not take.
