Jon Jones has spoken out after 'announcing his retirement' from MMA as he has given a cryptic update for a potential fight against Tom Aspinall.
UFC heavyweight champion Jones has been rumoured to face Aspinall, who currently holds the interim UFC heavyweight title.
An undisputed showdown has been in the works, with Dana White working behind the scenes to make the bout.
But Jones vs. Aspinall has yet to announced.
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The UFC clash plunged into serious doubt when 'Bones' seemingly called time on his UFC career as he issued a huge update on his future.
He then fired back at a UFC fan who claimed he has wasted Aspinall's prime.
The Brit, 32, hasn't fought since his 60-second drubbing of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester last summer.
He's been waiting on the sidelines for a chance at undisputed UFC glory.
But, as of yet, a deal to face Jones inside the famed Octagon has yet to be finalised.
Speaking to Demetrious Johnson, Aspinall opened up about his mindset, having not fought in almost a year.
"Now, I’ve been almost a year inactive with no prospects of anything apart from wait," he said.
"It’s kind of difficult mentally, but this is the fight against Jon Jones. The fight is another thing, this is the tricky bit where I really have to stay switched on, stay motivated, and I’m trying my best. It’s tough sometimes."
Despite Jones' supposed retirement stance, he claims he has the ability to 'pop out' and return to action as he dropped a cryptic update about his future in the UFC.
On X, he wrote: "I don’t know if I wanna call it retired, I feel like I’ll always have an ability to pop out and show em. I’ve had many breaks throughout my career, my identity outside of fighting is well intact. I’m genuinely enjoying life, I’m growing in different ways."
Jones, 37, hasn't fought since his third-round victory over Stipe Miocic in New York City last November.
He has one UFC heavyweight title defence to his name after claiming the vacant championship against Ciryl Gane.
Topics: Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, UFC
Nasir Jabbar