UFC CEO, Dana White has as soon as extra gone to bat for former heavyweight champion, Jon Jones after revealing his beautiful retirment evening, firmly claiming the Rochester native didn’t “duck” a struggle with Tom Aspinall — or anyone else throughout his run.
In a single day, Jones confirmed his retirement from fight sports activities with fast impact — relinquishing his portion of the heavyweight championship within the course of. And in consequence, Atherton native, Aspinall has been promoted to undisputed titleholder.
“As we speak, I’m formally asserting my retirement from the UFC,” Jon Jones’ assertion on X learn. “This resolution comes after quite a lot of reflection, and I need to take a second to precise my deepest gratitude for the journey I’ve skilled through the years. From the primary time I stepped into the Octagon, my objective was to push the boundaries of what was potential on this sport.
However curiously, this night, White revealed that Jones had initially agreed to struggle Aspinall later this yr, and a deal had been brokered, too. Nevertheless, the previous pound-for-pound quantity later renaged on the deal and determined in opposition to combating Aspinall in a title unification conflict.
“We have been speaking about it earlier than that, however yeah, the struggle [between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall] was achieved, we had the struggle achieved a very long time in the past, so why he determined to not struggle, you guys should ask him that,” White instructed The Mac Life this weekend.
“Hear, he was supplied what he deserves for that struggle [with Aspinall], yeah,” White continued.
Dana White defends Jon Jones from “ducking” claims
And through that very same interview, the long-time promotional boss defended claims from followers and even pundits alike that Jones had “ducked” a struggle with the British star — sustaining throughout his tenure with the promotion, he by no means denied combating anyone supplied to him.
“I mentioned it one million instances, I’ll say it once more,” White mentioned. He’s by no means ducked anyone — apart from that one goofy time with the Chael Sonnen factor, he’s by no means ducked anyone. I believe what the fact is — no matter modified his thoughts with this struggle, I don’t know. …He’s 38-years-old, and I don’t know.”
