Jon Jones Responds to Retirement Criticism

[jsbx45]

“I could have held the belt if I wanted to, but because at the time when I retired after Bisping, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and my condition was very bad," St-Pierre said. "I was on medication and I didn't want to hold [up] the division, because I knew there was a lot of young contenders. I knew I could stay with the belt and parade with the belt, and get all the money, the sponsors for a year, but I didn't want to do that because it would have put the division on hold. At the point I knew I was not coming back, I needed to take care of my health, I relinquished the belt immediately after because I didn't want to do that for the respect of my peers.”

I’m guessing the negative vibes towards Jones comes not from him deciding to retire, but the perception he held up the HW division longer than necessary.

True dat.

Seems like the police are more in control of your destiny than you are right now Jon.

Also...quack!

 

[Mike]

Lol "dominating" only Jones and his 6 fans on here think beating up OId Man Stipe then running off to hide is dominating anything.

 

[VinceArch]

Honestly as a Die hard GSP fan, I have to ask why I don't hear GSP ducked whittaker every day for 9 months but I hear Jones ducked aspinall all the time when in reality they both decided to hang it up. Kudos to them both. Leave on top before the game chews you up and spits you out.

GSP didn't hold his division up, his IBD was giving him serious issues. Not sure if it's true or not, but he retired shortly after beating Bisping. Jon held the division up with having everyone believe he was going to fight Aspinall.

 

[Captain Herb]

I guess he controls his own destiny until he gets in trouble and then it becomes 'God's Plan'

 

[Mob69]

Jon doesn’t ‘control his own destiny’.

Drugs, booze, and the law control it.

 

[Here's Johnny!]

Honestly as a Die hard GSP fan, I have to ask why I don't hear GSP ducked whittaker every day for 9 months but I hear Jones ducked aspinall all the time when in reality they both decided to hang it up. Kudos to them both. Leave on top before the game chews you up and spits you out.

To be fair he didn't stay champion for a year and tell everyone Whittaker didn't deserve a title fight....

 

[Deleted member 517683]

He had 1 event canceled. Or was it 2. I think one because of him.

One canceled event, one event moved to another destination/state because he didn´t get licensed there. Don´t ask which but iirc Nevada to California.

 

[RockyLockridge]

To be fair he didn't stay champion for a year and tell everyone Whittaker didn't deserve a title fight....

fair indeed, but i think jones was waiting for something else (francis or poatan, Or something else) not that it matters.

 

[jsbx45]

To be fair he didn't stay champion for a year and tell everyone Whittaker didn't deserve a title fight....

^^^ This ^^^

 

[DanaWhitesButler]

Honestly as a Die hard GSP fan, I have to ask why I don't hear GSP ducked whittaker every day for 9 months but I hear Jones ducked aspinall all the time when in reality they both decided to hang it up. Kudos to them both. Leave on top before the game chews you up and spits you out.

Obviously because he immediately retired and didn't hold up the division? And because he's not a completely despicable person? Completely despicable people tend to get criticized more.

 

[Flower2dPeople]

​

Jon Jones recently hit back at those slamming him for retiring.

Considered the MMA GOAT, Jones’ retirement was unceremonious to say the least. The youngest ever to become a UFC champ, Jones had a legendary run as the light heavyweight title holder until 2020. While his legacy has been marred by personal issues and drug test failures, no one can take away from his dominance inside the Octagon.

Jones returned after a three-year hiatus in 2023 and made easy work of Ciryl Gane to win the heavyweight title. He was then scheduled to defend the title against Stipe Miocic but was forced out due to an injury. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall became the interim champ by beating Sergei Pavlovich, and he then defended the interim title against Curtis Blaydes. However, Jones remained adamant about fighting Miocic, whom he defeated at UFC 309 in November 2024. Since that victory, Bones appeared uninterested in a fight against Aspinall, a saga which kept the heavyweight division on hold.

This led to widespread criticism and an online petition to strip Jones of the title that garnered nearly 200,000 signatures. The ordeal ended at a post-fight presser at UFC Baku last weekend, when Dana White announced Jones’ retirement. However, the criticism hasn’t stopped, as fans continue to slam Jones for depriving them of the fight they wanted and wasting a year of Aspinall’s career.

'Bones' Proud to Control His Own Destiny​

Jones responded, saying the critics are unhappy with him for retiring while he was still “dominating.” Jones posted a picture of himself with other UFC champs from the last decade, all of whom are now retired, most of long before “Bones.”

"I guess everybody else gets to retire - just not when you’re still dominating. Funny how that works,” Jones wrote on his Instagram Stories. “Forget personal goals, forget business ventures. Some folks really believe you should fight until they say you’ve had enough. Wild. Imagine thinking a grown man shouldn’t control his own destiny.”

READ HERE

Jon Jones Responds to Retirement Criticism

Jon Jones recently hit back at those slamming him for retiring.

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Are retired fighters covered under "no fighter bashing" rule?

 

[orca]

So much for “riding off into the sunset”

Completely destroyed his legacy

Also, you can’t be the goat if you didn’t play by the same rules as those who came before you. What I mean by that is Anderson, MM, Aldo, GSP, Fedor they all fought the best. None of them ducked an obvious contender like Jones.

hes like 38 years old
hes been fighting longer than Dc who retired 5 years ago
he also fought much earlier than stipe

gsp retired as well
also khabib
both of them has fewer title wins than jones
basicaly less accomplishment but your ok if they retired
but not jones who has more title wins ok

 

[Fight Professor]

I have no doubt he is going to return for at least 1 fight in a year or two once the court cases quiet down.

 

[RockyLockridge]

Obviously because he immediately retired and didn't hold up the division? And because he's not a completely despicable person? Completely despicable people tend to get criticized more.

Jones has fought more recently than tom, Tom has more than likely been offered fights he could have taken. Barao never threw a hissy fit and said "I'm not fight anyone other than cruz" He just fought til he became champ. That's not all on jones.

also that other stuff has nothing to do with fighting, So as long as we realize we're being biased, I guess that's reasonable.

 

[orca]

he has like the most title wins and has the best and hardest resume

how many title wins does a fighter need to retire?lol
i guess fighters like khabib and gsp should achieve 20 title wins before they retire? lol

 

[2004 account]

Jones retired all shook and suddenly as if that mojo he sold his soul to the devil for in exchange for success money and fame, just expired and the devil has now come back to take what was promised. Jon knows a loss is in his near future, he no longer can count on his artificial buffs, thats why he left. He isnt scared of Tom he is scared of the man down below (only half serious)

 

[wannabetoughguy]

One of the biggest divas in sports. Unbelievable.

 

[Mickey Mick]

 

[Captain Herb]

he has like the most title wins and has the best and hardest resume

how many title wins does a fighter need to retire?lol
i guess fighters like khabib and gsp should achieve 20 title wins before they retire? lol

Retirement's not the issue. He should have retired before he took an exhibition fight instead of fighting the rightful contender and then holding the belt hostage, daring Dana to strip him and showing everyone a complete lack of respect. You see the difference right?

 

[badascan]

He retired years ago as far as I'm concerned, and he's a gay man... Would never pay to watch him fight, he's a terrible human. Get right Jones...