Daniel Cormier Says Jon Jones 'Quit' UFC to Avoid Tom Aspinall Fight with Retirement

Daniel Cormier, longtime rival of Jon Jones, believes the former two-division champion gave up to avoid a fight with Tom Aspinall.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel (starts at 1:45 mark), Cormier said in no uncertain terms that Jones "quit" because he didn't want to step into the octagon with Aspinall.

UFC president Dana White told reporters after Saturday's UFC on ABC event that Jones informed them via phone call on Friday night he was retiring.

Jones posted an official statement on social media announcing his decision:

The retirement comes after a long period of unsuccessful negotiations between UFC and Jones to make a heavyweight title unification bout with Aspinall.

Aspinall won the interim title at UFC 295 in November 2023 by defeating Sergei Pavlovich. Jones was scheduled to defend the title against Stipe Miocic on that show, but Jones had to withdraw after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in training.

Jones returned last November at UFC 309, defeating Miocic via third-round TKO to retain the championship.

White's comments about the state of negotiations with Jones and Aspinall were often confusing. He said in March that a deal was "done but it's not done" and guaranteed the fight was going to happen.

"It's going to happen. It's done but it's not done—not done enough to sit right here now and announce it and give you a date," White said. "But the fight is going to happen. ... It's just a matter of getting it signed now."

Appearing on the June 17 episode of The Jim Rome Show (h/t MMA Junkie's Matthew Wells), White seemed to give Jones an ultimatum.

"We'll see how this thing plays out over the next couple of weeks," White told Rome. "If we can't get this fight done, we'll move on quickly. ... We'll have answers in the next couple weeks."

White also emphasized in that interview Jones wasn't afraid to fight anyone.

Even though this wasn't the outcome that White or UFC were hoping for, it does at least clear things up for a heavyweight division that has been stuck in place waiting for Jones.

Aspinall, who hasn't fought since July 2024 while holding out for a bout with Jones, was declared the new heavyweight champion by White.

Jones retired from the sport with a record of 28-1 with one no contest in 30 career fights. He was unbeaten in his last 20 fights, recording 11 stoppages during that span.