Jon Jones has finally broken his silence on his fighting future, hinting he'll voluntarily relinquish the UFC heavyweight championship rather than face interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.
"I give the belt up freely. Veni, vidi, vici," Jones stated in an unexpected series of posts on social media platform X.
The former pound-for-pound king revealed he hasn't trained since his last title defense in November, despite UFC reportedly meeting his financial demands for a unification bout with Aspinall.
Interestingly, Jones claims UFC has strategically kept him as champion instead of elevating Aspinall to undisputed status.
"Honestly, I believe it's been in the UFC's best interest to keep presenting me as the company's champion—not Tom," Jones wrote. "I've just been playing the role of the company man by doing nothing at all... and holding the position."
The heavyweight division has essentially stalled while this situation unfolds. Jones even admitted making more money from Aspinall's interim champion status than Aspinall himself has earned.
Many MMA fans have accused Jones of deliberately avoiding Aspinall, with some suggesting this decision could damage his legacy. But does the former long-reigning light-heavyweight champion care about these critiques?
"That's the problem with some young men, you think your last outcome is your legacy," Jones responded. "Legacy is what no one can take from you. It's built over time, not defined by a single win or loss."
Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall has been sidelined since his impressive 60-second victory over Curtis Blaydes last July. The British fighter has expressed frustration with his inactivity, though reports suggest an announcement regarding his next fight is imminent.
With UFC President Dana White facing mounting pressure to strip Jones of the title, this latest development suggests the champion may resolve the situation himself. Will this finally breathe new life into the stagnating heavyweight division?
