According to UFC president Dana White, the deal for Jon Jones, 37, to face Aspinall was “done” before Jones called White on Saturday and retired from mixed martial arts competition.

Tom Aspinall has issued his first statement as UFC heavyweight champion. Moments after UFC CEO Dana White dropped the bombshell Saturday that Jon Jones informed the promotion of retirement, Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) reacted with a brief message to his Instagram followers.

The UFC heavyweight division is finally showing signs of life. With Jon Jones reportedly stepping away from the sport, a long-stalled weight class is beginning to churn forward. The 33-year-old Brazilian from Salvador has quietly become one of the most avoided problems in the UFC—just ask anyone who’s had to peel him off their back.