Jon Jones' UFC Heavyweight Title Reign and the legendary career officially ended on June 21.
The news was first announced at the UFC Baku Post-Fight Press Conference where Dana White told the media that Jones had retired.
Jones confirmed this via his social media when 'Bones' posted a long explanation while he thinks about his career after a step at the age of 37.
For the heavyweight division, this means that there can finally be movement again at the top of the ranking with the newly promoted undisputed champion Tom Aspinall who is fired to make his return.
If the UFC had further delayed their decision whether he should strip Jones van de Riem or not, the greatest consensus of all time could have added a record to his list of awards that would have been felt unjust.
Today I officially announce my pension from the UFC. This decision comes after a lot of reflection and I want to take the time to express my deepest gratitude for the journey I have experienced over the years.
From the first time I stepped into the Octagon, my goal was to …
– Jonny Meat (@jonnyBoes) 22 June 2025
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Josh Thomson is happy that Jon Jones did not broken the record of Cain Velasquez as the longest reigning UFC Heavyweight Champion
From submitting Ciryl Gane in just over two minutes to UFC 285 in March 2023 to the confirmation of his retirement on June 21, Jon Jones defended the heavyweight title only once.
Fans were critical of his matchup with a recurring Stipe Miocic with frustrations that continued to grow alone after the fight was pushed back for a whole year due to an injury that the champion for UFC 295 sustained.
Aspinall rightly predicted that Jones would not fight him after he had defeated Miocic on dominant fashion on UFC 309 and now, after seven months of waiting, we now know the future of the UFC Heavyweight title.
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
With his reign on a total of 840 days, 'Bones' was only 56 days away from equaling the UFC record for the longest heavyweight title line.
That record (896 days) is currently in the hands of Cain Velasquez who won the title on UFC 155 in December 2012 and it lasted UFC 188 in June 2015, with its regime also expanded due to a considerable injury.
In a response to Jones's pension, the former UFC hunter Josh Thomson, who previously trained with Velasquez on the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA), stated that he was happy that Jones had not taken this record from Velasquez after an underwhelming title.
“Glad Jones Cain Velasquez HW -Titellengte has not broken as a champion by not fighting. Glad MMA can continue from this chapter. It's #tomime @aspinallmma”
Jon Jones has another UFC record after retiring and leaving the heavyweight title
Although Jon Jones did not become the longest ruling UFC heavyweight champion of all time, his exit from the sport has seen him extend another record.
'Bones' has had four different title government, completely without the belt changing the owner because it was beaten in the Octagon.
During his light heavyweight days, Jones was stripped of the belt before he returned it twice as a result of controversies both in and from the octhoek.
He also left titles twice, with his last point ending at 205 pounds when Jones called to give up the belt so that he could take time to prepare for a heavyweight movement.