Jon Jones has responded with amusement after being left off the nominee list for the 2025 ESPY Award for ‘Best UFC Fighter.’ The news comes shortly after Jones announced his retirement following a controversial decision not to defend his heavyweight title against interim champion Tom Aspinall. This development marks a significant moment in Jones’s storied career and highlights the reaction to his absence from the awards.

Details on the 2025 ESPY Award Nominations and Jones’s Reaction

The nominees for the 2025 ESPYs in the ‘Best UFC Fighter’ category were revealed on Thursday evening, featuring fighters such as Islam Makhachev, Dricus Du Plessis, Kayla Harrison, and Merab Dvalishvili, all recognized for their outstanding performances over the past year. Jon Jones, however, was notably missing from the list following a single underwhelming fight against a veteran Stipe Miocic after nearly two years away from competition. Tom Aspinall, who held the interim title but fought only once during this period, was also excluded.

Jones responded to the snub on social media with a joking tweet, “What!? No Bones?!” which many fans took seriously, prompting some teasing comments. One fan sarcastically remarked, “Somebody takes grandpas phone away,” while others expressed frustration with Jones’s attitude toward the nomination process. One comment stated,

“It’s getting sad at this point.”

Another fan suggested,

“Seems they only considered fighters that were active in 2025 for this award,”

and a separate message advised,

“Jon you’re retired stop begging for attention.”

Jon Jones’s Unexpected Retirement After a Disrupted Heavyweight Run

Jon Jones’s decision to retire came after his only defense of the heavyweight title, which he claimed by defeating Ciryl Gane and thus becoming a two-division world champion. Despite Dana White’s efforts to organize a unification bout against interim champion Tom Aspinall, Jones was reluctant to accept the fight. Reports indicate he initially agreed to the bout for a record-breaking payout but ultimately retracted his acceptance, leaving fans disappointed.

Jones’s legendary career at light-heavyweight was punctuated by setbacks, including legal troubles and failed drug tests, which sidelined him for years. After a significant hiatus from 2020 to 2023, he moved up to heavyweight and secured the title. However, his first scheduled defense against Stipe Miocic was postponed due to a severe shoulder injury. During this period, Aspinall captured the interim championship and emerged as the division’s leading contender, but Jones never seemed to recognize him fully as a worthy adversary.

Implications of Jones’s Retirement and Award Snub on UFC Landscape

The absence of Jon Jones from the 2025 ESPY nominations underlines both the impact of inactivity on an athlete’s recognition and the shifting dynamics within the UFC heavyweight division. With Jones stepping away unexpectedly after one title defense and holding back from a unification bout, the door remains open for other fighters like Aspinall to rise in prominence.

Jones’s lighthearted reaction to the ESPY snub, despite fan backlash, suggests a complex relationship with his legacy and public perception. The UFC community remains uncertain about what the future holds for the former champion, but his retirement marks a turning point that could redefine the division’s hierarchy and influence award considerations in upcoming years.