Jon Jones seems to be making light of his exclusion from the nominations for the 2025 ESPY `Best UFC Fighter` award.
The legendary two-division world champion recently announced his retirement, a move that frustrated fans as he chose not to defend his title against interim champion Tom Aspinall in a potential unification fight. This marked the conclusion of his notable career, coming months after his single heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
In the months leading up to this, Jones had hinted at future fights but seemed to avoid a matchup with Aspinall. His retirement was eventually confirmed by Dana White at the UFC Baku post-fight press conference, a decision many found anticlimactic.
Jones Humorous Reaction to ESPY Snub
The nominees for the 2025 ESPY Awards were revealed recently, featuring the `Best UFC Fighter` category. Islam Makhachev, Dricus Du Plessis, Kayla Harrison, and Merab Dvalishvili were all nominated, reflecting their impressive performances over the past year.
Given his inactivity and only one fight – a victory against the veteran Stipe Miocic after a nearly two-year layoff – Jon Jones`s omission was not unexpected. Tom Aspinall, despite holding the interim title, also missed out on a nomination, having only competed once while awaiting the potential fight with Jones.
Jones reacted on social media with a seemingly sarcastic post, tweeting: “What!?” followed by “No Bones?!” However, many fans apparently didn`t perceive the humor, interpreting his comment as genuine frustration and responding with mockery. Comments included remarks like “Somebody takes grandpas phone away, It’s getting sad at this point.”
Other fan reactions included observations such as “Seems they only considered fighters that were active in 2025 for this award,” and direct admonishments like “Jon you’re retired stop begging for attention.”
Retirement After Single Heavyweight Defense
Despite Dana White`s efforts to make the bout happen, Jon Jones never appeared enthusiastic about fighting Tom Aspinall. Reports suggested he initially agreed for a substantial purse but later withdrew.
Jones built a legendary career in the light-heavyweight division, frequently interrupted only by his personal issues, including legal troubles and failed drug tests. After vacating his light-heavyweight title, he took a three-year break (2020-2023) to gain weight for the heavyweight division, successfully capturing the title by defeating Ciryl Gane.
His planned first heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic was postponed due to a severe shoulder injury. During his recovery, Tom Aspinall secured the interim title, establishing himself as the clear next contender. However, Jones largely avoided acknowledging Aspinall as his mandatory opponent.
Percy Harlow