White didn’t sound convinced that Jon Jones would retire from fighting after his UFC 309 bout against Stipe Miocic, despite Jones’ recent words.
Dana White isn’t putting much stock into Jon Jones retirement talk, even when that retirement talk is coming from Jon Jones himself.
Since “Bones” announced his return in late 2022, his goal has been clear: to win the UFC heavyweight title and then defend it against Stipe Miocic, who has the most heavyweight title defenses in the division’s history. Following that? Those in his gym said he planned to walk away from the sport undefeated with his legacy complete.
On Saturday night after UFC 306 at the Sphere, Jones confirmed that was still the plan. He told light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira that he was almost done fighting. And he told a roving reporter who asked him about his future, “This is gonna be the last time — the last time.”
Dana White reacts to Jon Jones saying that his next fight will be his retirement fight:
“See how this fight plays out and then we’ll go from there.”
He also says that Tom Aspinall will be the backup for that fight #UFC309 #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/qmIhYeCmGY
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) September 18, 2024
Following Tuesday night’s Contender Series event, UFC CEO Dana White said he hadn’t spoken to Jones about it.
“Why speak to him after this event? You gotta figure out what’s gonna happen in this [UFC 309] fight,” White said. “We’ll see how this fight plays out, and then we’ll go from there.”
White believes Jones can be convinced to stick around and fight against current interim champion Tom Aspinall. Who, by the way, White confirmed is the official UFC 309 back-up should anything happen to Jones or Miocic.
White also said you can forget any talk of Jones facing someone else should he stick around and continue fighting.
“Tom Aspinall is is next in line for anything that happens after this fight,” he said.