No one really knows whether Jon Jones is retired or not. The GOAT contender is still the undisputed heavyweight champion of the UFC, but has been sending very mixed signals about his next move. On the one hand, ‘Bones’ claimed that he had already “told the UFC my plans a long time ago” and was puzzled why the promotion had not made it public. Some took that as him saying he would not be fighting interim champ Tom Aspinall as the entire MMA world wants him to do.

And one of his recent X posts has only added to the uncertainty. When a fan asked ‘Bones’ “How does it feel to be retired?” the GOAT contender had surprising answer. “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,” ‘Bones’ wrote.

So it seems like Jones is not quite retired and still willing to come back for the right opponent. Perhaps a super-fight with, say, an Alex Pereira, or a “fun fight” with Jamahal Hill, or Derrick Lewis, as ‘Bones’ had suggested during the UFC 309 media interactions. But when it comes to fighting Tom Aspinall, Jones seems to have retired.

The UFC, of course, desperately wants to make the fight for two main reasons. Dana White has spoken about how Jones-Aspinall could be the biggest fight they’ve ever done, and it makes sure that the heavyweight title has the chance to pass on to the next generation of heavyweights.

And there are good reasons for ‘Bones’ not wanting to fight Aspinall. The interim champ is a generational talent, and has a remarkably well-rounded game. To make matters worse, the Englishman is naturally bigger and stronger than the undisputed champ, and holds devastating one-punch power in his hands.

Tom Aspinall is done with Jon Jones’ shenanigans

If Tom Aspinall were to fight Jon Jones, and then beat him, that would be the biggest win in the history of the UFC. It is not everyday that the undefeated guy who is considered the greatest of all time loses. In fact, in Jones’ case, it would be the first time that ever happens (except an unfortunate DQ loss in a fight he had all but won).

That win alone could launch Aspinall into another stratosphere—not only of stardom, but as an all-time great. But the interim champ, who is in his prime, has not fought since July last year, and is desperate to get back into the Octagon—Jon Jones or otherwise. In fact, this long period of inactivity and the uncertainty around his next fight is taking a real toll on his mental health.

“Now, I’ve been almost a year inactive with no prospect of anything apart from wait. So now is actually a little bit more of a tricky time for me mentally than it was then. I constantly had little goals to work towards, whereas now it’s like, ‘Right, just be ready and we’ll let you know’, it’s kind of difficult mentally,” Aspinall said in a recent interview with Demetrious Johnson.

Maybe the UFC should tell everyone, including Aspinall, what Jones’ decision is. What do you think about ‘Bones’s tweet about retirement? Let us know in the comments.