TLDR
- Jon Jones announced his retirement from UFC fighting, stating ‘my gloves are hung up’
- The retirement comes after Jones rejected what he called a ‘lowball’ contract offer from UFC
- Jones was also reportedly upset about being excluded from a White House visit
- This is not the first time Jones has announced his retirement from the sport
- Jones is considered one of the greatest UFC fighters of all time despite multiple controversies
Sources: MSN | MMA Fighting | MMA Mania | Yardbarker
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has announced he is retiring from mixed martial arts, declaring that his fighting career is officially over. Jones made the statement following recent disputes with the UFC organization.
“My gloves are hung up,” Jones said in his retirement announcement. The 37-year-old fighter cited multiple reasons for his decision to walk away from the sport.
One major factor in Jones’ retirement appears to be a contract dispute with UFC. According to reports, Jones rejected what he described as a “lowball” offer from the organization for his next fight. The financial terms of the proposed deal were not disclosed.
Al final Dana tenía razon?? 🤔
Jon Jones dice que ya está, ya colgó los guantes y está retirado de las peleas 🥺pic.twitter.com/4boLRita7x
— MMA Latinoamérica (@ClubDeLasMMA) April 10, 2026
Jones was also upset about being excluded from a recent White House visit. Other UFC fighters were invited to the event, but Jones was not included in the invitation list.
A History of Retirement Claims
This is not the first time Jones has announced plans to retire from fighting. He has previously made similar statements about leaving the sport, only to return to competition later.
Because of this pattern, many fans and media outlets are questioning whether this retirement will be permanent. The word “again” has appeared in multiple headlines covering Jones’ latest announcement.
Jones has been competing in UFC since 2008. He became the youngest champion in UFC history when he won the light heavyweight title at age 23 in 2011.
Career Achievements and Controversies
Jones is widely considered one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. He has held championship titles in multiple weight divisions and defeated numerous top competitors.
However, his career has also been marked by legal troubles and failed drug tests. Jones has been suspended multiple times by the UFC for various violations.
He moved up to the heavyweight division in 2023 and won that title by defeating Ciryl Gane. His most recent fight was a victory over Stipe Miocic in November 2024.
Many fans had hoped Jones would fight current interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall in a title unification bout. That fight now appears unlikely to happen if Jones’ retirement holds.
The UFC has not yet issued an official statement about Jones’ retirement announcement. The organization typically does not comment immediately on fighter retirement decisions.
Jones’ legacy in the sport remains complicated. His fighting skills and achievements inside the octagon are matched by controversies and issues outside of it.
At this time, Jones maintains that his decision to retire is final. He stated clearly that he will not be returning to fight in the UFC again.
The timing of the announcement comes shortly after his contract negotiations with UFC broke down and the White House incident occurred.
