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Tom Aspinall has officially been crowned the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion following the retirement of Jon Jones, ending months of uncertainty in the division.
UFC president Dana White confirmed the news after UFC Fight Night in Azerbaijan, stating: “Jon Jones called us last night and retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC.”
Aspinall, 32, becomes just the third Briton in history to claim a UFC championship and the first ever to hold the heavyweight crown. The Manchester native won the interim title in November 2023 and has now been upgraded after a 19-month stint as placeholder champion.
Jones, 37, returned to the sport in March 2023 to capture the vacant title and fought Stipe Miocic in November 2024. During that time, Aspinall continuously pushed for a fight with the former light-heavyweight great but Jones declined, citing that a bout with the Brit wouldn’t add to his legacy.
“Do I regret the time that I gave [Jones to decide]? Listen, if you look at what he’s accomplished in the sport, no,” White said, defending the decision to wait on Jones, who many consider one of MMA’s all-time best.
White also acknowledged the cost of the delay to Aspinall: “I obviously feel bad for Tom that he lost all that time and obviously money, but we’ll make it up to him. He’s been willing to do anything, fight him anywhere at any time... now he’s like ‘I’ll fight anybody – you tell me who and I’ll fight them.’”
Aspinall has not fought since July 2024 and has spent just three minutes and 22 seconds in the octagon since 2023. But that’s about to change, as the UFC plans his first defence for summer or early autumn. Top contender Ciryl Gane is the likely opponent.
Reacting to the news on social media, Aspinall said: “For you fans, it’s time to get this heavyweight division going. An active undisputed champion.”
Aspinall now holds the distinction of being the longest-reigning interim champion in UFC history. With Jon Jones stepping away for good, the division finally has clarity. And for UK MMA, it’s a historic moment—Aspinall joins Leon Edwards and Michael Bisping as British champions, but stands alone as the first to rule the heavyweight division.
