Jon Jones is back in the testing pool. Again.
Jones, the UFC’s biggest star and arguably the greatest fighter of all time, has had his fair share of ups and downs. He became the youngest champion in UFC history when he claimed the light heavyweight belt at just 23 years old (UFC 128, March 19, 2011), defeating Maurício "Shogun" Rua — a legend of the Pride era. That moment kickstarted a run that’s never been matched.
Since becoming champion, Jones only fought in main events, stacking up wins across three generations of elite fighters:
The first wave came from the old guard between 2010 and 2013. Jon took out legends like Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, and Rashad Evans. He didn’t just beat them; he dominated them. Each of those wins was a statement that Jones wasn’t just the future — he was already the present.
Then came the prime era killers between 2013 and 2017. Names like Alexander Gustafsson (in one of the greatest fights ever at UFC 165 in 2013), Glover Teixeira (UFC 172 in 2014), and Daniel Cormier (UFC 182 in 2015). These weren’t just big fights; these were wars for the top of the sport. Jones walked away victorious every time.
In the modern era, Jones continued taking on contenders who had dominated the new landscape. He beat Anthony Smith at UFC 235 in 2019, edged Thiago Santos in a razor-close fight at UFC 239, and got past Dominick Reyes at UFC 247 in early 2020. Say what you want about the scoring in some of those bouts, but Jon always found a way to win.
Jones has never truly been beaten in the Octagon. His only official loss came via disqualification against Matt Hamill in 2009, a fight he was winning easily. After vacating his light heavyweight title in 2020, Jon made the move up to heavyweight. He took time off to bulk up and reshape his game. Then at UFC 285 (March 4, 2023), he returned after a three-year layoff and submitted Ciryl Gane in the first round to become the UFC heavyweight champion. It was classic Jon Jones: a dominant, almost effortless performance in a high-stakes moment.
While Jon was away preparing for his heavyweight debut, a new force was rising in the division — Tom Aspinall.
Tom Aspinall represents the next generation of UFC heavyweights. A blend of athleticism, fight IQ, and submission skills rarely seen in that weight class, Tom quickly became a problem for everyone in the division. He entered the UFC in 2020 and immediately made waves. He knocked out Jake Collier in just 45 seconds, then tapped out veteran Andrei Arlovski in the second round in 2021. He followed that up with a first-round TKO win over Sergey Spivak in September 2021 and a submission over Alexander Volkov in March 2022.
He did all of this while making it look easy.
After recovering from a freak injury against Curtis Blaydes, Tom came back better than ever, blasting through Marcin Tybura in July 2023. Then came UFC 295 on November 11, 2023, where he faced Sergey Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title. Aspinall knocked him out in the first round, securing the interim belt and putting the whole division on notice.
It was at this point that the whispers of a Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall matchup turned into a roar.
The media buzz began picking up in late 2022, when Jon Jones officially announced his return to heavyweight. Fans, analysts, and fighters began to fantasize about what a fight between the GOAT and the new breed would look like. As Tom continued to rack up finishes and Jon reclaimed gold at UFC 285, the two seemed destined to collide.
By early 2024, negotiations were quietly underway. Behind the scenes, the UFC was working hard to book Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall for a late 2024 event, likely UFC 309 or UFC 310. Dana White teased the matchup during press conferences, and both camps began taking subtle shots on social media. The deal was nearly done.
Then it all changed.
In June 2024, Jon Jones suddenly announced his retirement from MMA. It came out of nowhere. There was no formal press conference, no farewell fight, no post-fight speech. Just a quiet announcement on his social channels that he was stepping away. Even Dana White seemed blindsided when asked about it by reporters. Dana admitted that they had just agreed to terms and were finalizing plans for the fight.
With Jones now inactive, the UFC elevated Tom Aspinall to full undisputed heavyweight champion. The fans, although disappointed, embraced the new era. Tom was worthy. He had earned it.
But then, like clockwork, Jon Jones re-entered the USADA testing pool in July 2025. Just over a year after his last fight and weeks after Tom was declared champion, Jon was back. Again.
The timing has raised a lot of questions. Why would Jon retire just to come back a year later? Why not simply defend the belt instead of relinquishing it? Did something change behind the scenes? Or is this all part of the Jon Jones game plan — a strategic move to stay in control of the narrative and keep everyone guessing?
Jon has always played by his own rules. Whether it’s mind games, contract negotiations, or social media antics, he knows how to stir the pot. He’s the king of keeping people talking. One day he’s retired, the next he’s training again, posting cryptic messages or calling out contenders. It’s hard to know what’s real and what’s calculated promotion. But one thing is certain: when Jon Jones is active, the entire MMA world pays attention.
If this fight with Tom Aspinall does happen, it will be one of the biggest matchups in UFC history. It’s not just about the belt — it’s about legacy. For Tom, it’s a chance to dethrone the king and solidify himself as the new face of the heavyweight division. For Jon, it’s a chance to remind everyone that there’s levels to this game, and he’s still operating at the highest one.
Let’s look at their resumes.
Jon Jones is 27-1 (1 NC) with wins over 11 former world champions. He has 14 title fight victories and has headlined 15 UFC events. He’s the youngest champ in UFC history, has dominated in two weight classes, and survived three full generations of fighters.
Tom Aspinall is 14-3, with all of his UFC wins coming by finish. He’s the interim champ turned undisputed champ. He’s finished top contenders like Volkov, Pavlovich, and Spivak with relative ease. He’s the future, and maybe the present too.
This fight, whenever it happens, will be more than just a title unification. It will be a battle for the soul of the heavyweight division. It’s old school vs. new school. GOAT vs. next-gen. And while we don’t have a date yet, the buildup alone has already made history.
As a fan, it’s been fascinating to watch all of this unfold. The chaos, the back-and-forth, the sudden retirements and returns — it all feels like a movie playing out in real life. Jon Jones continues to blur the line between legend and myth. And Tom Aspinall looks more and more like the real-life dragon slayer destined to test him.
Jon Jones isn’t just the GOAT. In my opinion, he’s the GOAT of GOATs. The best at being the best. Because MMA is hands down the hardest, most complex, and most intense sport in the world. And Jon Jones has ruled over it for more than a decade. That’s not just greatness — that’s history.
So the question remains: can anyone, even someone as dangerous as Tom Aspinall, stop the myth that is Jon "Bones" Jones? Or are we witnessing one of the greatest athletes of all time write the final chapter of a story no one else could even imagine?
We’re lucky to be here for this. This isn’t just another fight. This is a moment in time.