• Brett OkamotoJune 21, 2025, 19:30 and

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      Brett Okamoto has reported on mixed martial and boxing at ESPN since 2010. He has treated all the biggest martials during that time, including in-depth interviews and functions with names such as Dana White, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Conor McGregor, Nate Diaz, Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao and Georges ST-Pierre. He was also a manufacturer on the 30 for 30 film: ‘Chuck and Tito’, looking back at the careers and rivalry of Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. He lives in Las Vegas, and is an avid, below average golfer in his spare time.

Jon JonesDana White, CEO of UFC, announced on Saturday that the greatest mixed fogator of all time is considered the greatest mixed fighter of all time.

According to White, Jones, 37, informed the promotion of his decision to retire on Friday. The UFC has worked on discussing a heavyweight title -one between Jones and Interim Champion Tom AspinallBut with Jones’ sudden retirement, Aspinall is now being raised to an undisputed champion.

“Jon Jones called and retired last night,” White said at a press conference in Azerbaijan. “Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC. ‘

Jones did not immediately comment on the announcement of White. White said the UFC will work with Aspinall next week on discussing its first title defense.

Jones (28-1) moved up from the light heavyweight division to conquer the vacant heavyweight championship Sirl gane in 2023. He defended the belt once during his 27-month title, in a third round TKO victory over Stipe miocic at UFC 309 in November.

A bolt between Jones and Aspinall would have been one of the largest in the UFC heavyweight history, but Jones repeatedly delayed the potential match and argued that a victory over Aspinall would have done nothing for his legacy. Jones’ uninterests led to many observers accusing him of using Aspinall. An online request in which Jones is asked to be stripped of his title has acquired almost 200,000 signatures.

“Of course, I feel bad to Tom that he has lost all the time and money, but we will make it to him. Tom Aspinall is a good guy. He was incredible through the whole process we went through,” White said. “He was willing to do anything – fight him everywhere and any time and do it, and now he’s like,” I’ll fight with someone. You tell me who and I will fight against him. ‘So Aspinall was wonderful.

Jones, who lives and practices in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been considered the greatest mixed fighter of all time for years. At 21, he became the latest champion in UFC history, when he defeated Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua for the 205-pound title in 2011. He had a record of 16-0 in the UFC Championships most time. He is one of nine fighters that keep UFC titles in multiple weight classes. His 22 career wins in the UFC is linked to the fifth in UFC history.

During his career, Jones was greatly influenced by legal issues outside the Octagon. Most importantly, in 2015, he was arrested and charged with a criminal hit-and-run, after fleeing at the scene of a vehicle accident that injured a 25-year-old pregnant woman. He was suspended for one year in 2016, after testing positive for drug improvement. Jones has long maintained that the positive results were due to infected legal supplements.