Jones' retirement squashed a highly anticipated heavyweight title unification fight between Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall after months of will they, won't they. Jones went on to defeat Evans at UFC 145 in 2012, but the words of his rival have hung over Jones' career. play 1:00 Aspinall vows to become the heavyweight GOAT after Jones' retirement Tom Aspinall speaks after officially becoming the UFC heavyweight champion after Jon Jones' retirement. The front half of Jones' career was astounding and filled with dominant performances over Hall of Fame fighters Rua, Evans and Vitor Belfort. If (or when) Jones decides to come out of retirement to fight Aspinall or someone else, he'll be in the driver's seat of negotiating.