Jon Jones says he’ll retire after UFC 309: ‘This is gonna be the last time’
- MMA Mania
Sep 16
By Ryan Harkness
Sorry, Tom Aspinall! Jones confirmed that he still intends to retire following a final fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Jon Jones still plans to retire after his long-awaited UFC 309 Heavyweight title clash with Stipe Miocic, which was just made official (again) for Nov. 16, 2024, inside Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.
Indeed, 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 more than one year in the making — Jones vs. Miocic was supposed to happen back Nov. 2023 at UFC 295; however, a torn pectoral muscle took “Bones” out of action (see it here).
Over that year, new potential challenges for the former Light Heavyweight champion and current Heavyweight champ have arisen. Tom Aspinall holds an interim Heavyweight strap. A bout with Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, would be the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) “super” fight in years.
But, according to Jones, he’s still planning on walking away from the sport after one more fight.
Jon Jones confirmed to @ClockedNload that his fight against Stipe Miocic will be his last one - planning to retire after #UFC309 pic.twitter.com/rz4yUAa4SW
— Clocked N' Loaded (@ClockedNload) September 15, 2024
“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, 37, and has been fighting professionally since 2008. He arrived in UFC in 2009, and has been competing 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.”
So, fight fans, make sure you catch “Jones vs. Miocic” two months from now ... because it may be the last time we The G.O.A.T. competing in the cage.
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