Jon Jones retires from the UFC

After staging two successful defences to his heavyweight crown, Jon Jones' retirement from professional Mixed Martial Arts was announced late last night by Dana White, who had this to say on the matter after a fight night event in Baku, Azerbaijan.

"Jon Jones called us last night and retired. Jon Jones is officially retired, and Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight Champion of the World."

Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall were poised to battle one another sometime this year, but the former UFC light-heavyweight champion never appeared willing to give Tom Aspinall a shot at the title despite the Brit being the longest-serving interim champion in UFC history.

Jon Jones is regarded by many as the best to ever put on the gloves and walk into the octagon, but not taking the fight against Tom Aspinall is a massive stain on his legacy.

Tom Aspinall says it was never about fighting Jon Jones, he just wanted to fight for UFC gold, and after months of delay, he has earned the title of 'undisputed heavyweight champion of the world' in the most peculiar way imaginable.

This is what the fighting man from Manchester, England, said on social media, " For you fans, it's time to get this Heavyweight division going, as an active undisputed champion."

It remains to be seen who the new undisputed Champion will face, but the favourite for Aspinall's first title defence is frenchman, Cyril Gane.