‘He’ll be back’: Pros react to Jon Jones retirement from UFC

Jon Jones is retired. So says UFC CEO Dana White, anyway.

White made the announcement that Jones—the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champion, essentially the most dominant mild heavyweight champion within the promotion’s historical past, and arguably the best fighter of all-time — has formally hung up the gloves. The information means Jones forfeits his heavyweight belt and interim champion Tom Aspinall has been promoted to undisputed standing.

Jones’ retirement places an finish to a years-long saga wherein he and Aspinall made their case to be the UFC’s prime heavyweight, with Jones transferring up from 205 kilos to win undisputed title fights in opposition to Ciryl Gane and Stipe Miocic, and Aspinall successful interim title bouts in opposition to Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes to enhance his document within the division to 8-1. A bout between the 2 appeared inevitable on paper, however Jones routinely dismissed Aspinall and mentioned he had little interest in ever combating to unify the belts.

None of that issues now, with Jones gone and Aspinall formally on the prime of the heavyweight mountain.

Jones is but to talk on the announcement himself, leaving the MMA neighborhood to marvel if “Bones” is definitely gone for good.

Take a look at social media reactions to Jones’ retirement beneath.