Aspinall declares himself 'undisputed' UFC champion: 'Jon Jones is retired'

Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall said he's moving on from the idea of a potential unification fight against undisputed champ Jon Jones.

"Jon Jones is retired," Aspinall said Monday, according to ESPN's Brett Okamoto. "I want to say God bless him moving forward in what he does with his life and career. We move on. I'm the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I'm ready to take on all comers and get this division moving again."

A blockbuster bout between Jones and Aspinall has been rumored for months, but the former remains noncommittal about it. Aspinall has repeatedly voiced his frustration with how long it's taking for the fight to become official.

Jones - one of the greatest fighters in UFC history - won the heavyweight belt in March 2023 after moving up from the light heavyweight division. The 37-year-old has defended his title once, defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024.

Jones has left his MMA future open-ended in recent interviews, hinting in May that he'd take a prolonged break from the Octagon.

"Those guys have been waiting around too long," Aspinall said, per Okamoto. "The contenders are getting sick of it. Everybody's getting sick of it. Even the fans are getting sick of this stuff. So, Jon's retired and it's time that we move on."

He added: "The division is completely stuck. I am sick of the division being stuck. I'm there. I'm active. I'm getting better all the time. Just stick me in."

Aspinall hasn't fought since July 2024, when he defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. The 32-year-old also said Monday that his next fight will be announced soon.