Overview

• Jon Jones publicly declared he is not retired and said he informed UFC leadership of his plans months ago
• UFC president Dana White denied pressuring Jones to stay and stated he only learned of the retirement when it was announced
• Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion on June 21 and aims to fight twice before year’s end
• Fellow fighters including Israel Adesanya and Khabib Nurmagomedov have predicted Jones will return, labeling his social-media posts strategic
• Jones faces a court appearance next month on a misdemeanor hit-and-run charge in Albuquerque