‘This Is Gonna Be The Last Time’

Sorry, Tom Aspinall! Jones confirmed that he still intends to retire following a final fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.

Jon Jones plans on retiring after his big UFC 309 heavyweight title clash with Stipe Miocic in November.

The UFC just officially announced Jones vs. Miocic during Noche UFC at the Sphere, and “Bones” was in attendance looking fit and fashionable in a black dress shirt and cowboy hat. This is a fight over a year in the making: Jon and Stipe were supposed to clash in November of 2023 at UFC 295, but a torn pectoral muscle took Jones out of action.

Over that year, new potential challenges for the former light heavyweight champ and current heavyweight champ have arisen. Tom Aspinall holds an interim heavyweight title. A bout with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira would be the biggest MMA superfight in years. But according to Jones, he’s still planning on walking away from the sport after one more fight.

“This is gonna be the last time. The last time,” Jones told Clocked N’ Loaded on Saturday night before adding, “More than likely.”

MMAMania.com had heard from sources at UFC 306 that Jones was telling people this was his final fight, but now you have it on camera in his own words. Jones is 37 years old and has been fighting professionally since 2008. He arrived in the UFC in 2009, and has been fighting in title fights since 2011. That’s a long time to stand at the top of the mountain, and “Bones” is ready to leave before age or younger contenders drag him down.

Which is too bad, because he sounds like he’s just getting filled in at heavyweight.

“I feel great, yeah,” he said. “I feel really, really good. 250 pounds lean and strong.”

Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic goes down on November 16th from Madison Square Garden in New York City. Make sure you catch it, because it may be the last time we see Jones competing in the cage.