Jon Jones' retirement from mixed martial arts has felt more and more inevitable over the course of this year. And yet, it still blindsided the MMA world when UFC CEO Dana White broke the news on Saturday.

His post comes after UFC president Dana White announced earlier Saturday that Jones officially retired from the promotion, making Tom Aspinall the new heavyweight champion. "Jon Jones called us last night and retired," White told reporters at a press conference. "Jon Jones is officially retired. Tom Aspinall is the heavyweight champion of the UFC."

UFC heavyweight champion and MMA legend Jon Jones told the promotion he has retired at the age of 37, UFC CEO Dana White said on Saturday after the promotion's card in Baku, Azerbaijan. Correspondingly, longtime interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall has been elevated to the undisputed belt-holde r.