Fans hoping for a clash between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall at Madison Square Garden will have to keep waiting — or give up altogether. According to UFC President Dana White, the blockbuster heavyweight title fight was in place before Jones unexpectedly pulled the plug and chose retirement instead.
Speaking at Fanatics Fest, White said the promotion had essentially finalized the details for the fight, expected to headline the UFC’s annual November event in New York. “He called us and said, ‘I think I’m done. It’s been a good run. I appreciate everything,’” White told reporters. “We told him to sleep on it — but the next morning, he was sure.”
Jones’ retirement call came just days before news broke about a new legal issue: a misdemeanor charge for leaving the scene of an accident in New Mexico. White claims he was unaware of the incident when he first heard of Jones’ retirement and isn’t sure whether the legal troubles influenced the decision. “Maybe that’s why he retired — who the hell knows?”
White emphasized that both fighters had verbally agreed, and he’d been publicly confident because the fight was essentially a done deal. “He was going to get paid what he deserves,” White noted. “But then he changed his mind.”
Despite the last-minute shift, White pushed back against speculation that Jones retired to avoid Aspinall. “He’s never ducked anybody,” White said, reminding reporters that the 38-year-old has always taken on top-tier opponents throughout his legendary career. “Our job is to make the biggest fights fans want. But once a guy mentions retirement, you know my rule — it’s time.”
