The second Tom Aspinall was handed the interim heavyweight belt on Nov. 11, 2023, after knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 is when he earned the correct to problem undisputed champion Jon Jones to unify the belts. However since that point, Jones hasn’t been all that excited by obliging.
He will be forgiven for not entertaining the combat initially as a result of he was recovering from harm. However Jones is the explanation there was an interim heavyweight championship combat; he needed to bow out of his scheduled title protection in opposition to Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 due to a torn pectoral muscle.
Aspinall stepped into the spot Jones vacated on the UFC 295 card and completed Pavlovich on two weeks’ discover. He then efficiently defended his interim belt in opposition to Curtis Blaydes in July 2024. So when Jones knocked out Miocic in his return from harm at UFC 309 in November, a unifying bout between Jones and Aspinall turned the one logical subsequent step.
But, right here we’re, practically a 12 months since Aspinall’s final combat, and nonetheless a unifying bout hasn’t been booked. UFC president Dana White continues to guarantee the MMA group that the combat will occur, going as far as to publicly proclaim on the UFC 316 postfight information convention final week that “Jon Jones was supplied the deal and accepted the deal.”
Jones’ social media appears to inform a distinct story, although.
The place is the reality? Have a look again in any respect the discuss, social media posts, fakeouts and hypothesis over the previous 12 months and determine for your self.
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Dana White: Jon Jones just isn’t afraid to combat Tom Aspinall
Dana White explains to Stephen A. Smith that Jon Jones has by no means turned down a combat and that Jones has no aversion to combating Tom Aspinall.
July 27, 2024: Simply 60 seconds into his first protection as UFC interim heavyweight champion, Aspinall knocks out Blaydes with a powerful left hand and a sequence of floor strikes. He wastes no time addressing the elephant within the room.
“I am the perfect finisher within the UFC, if I begin to snowball you, you are completed,” Aspinall tells the Manchester, England, crowd at UFC 304 throughout his postfight interview. “Who needs to see Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones?”
Nov. 7, 2024: Main as much as the rescheduled Miocic combat, Jones bristles at the concept that he’ll face Aspinall if he will get previous Miocic, implying Aspinall is not his stage of competitors.
“I really feel like Tom Aspinall is — I do not need to say no one — however he hasn’t confirmed something, he hasn’t completed something,” Jones says in an interview. “I am not right here to gamble on another person making a reputation off of me.”
As an alternative, Jones hints that he might entertain retirement after the combat. He additionally floats a champion vs. champion match in opposition to then-light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
“If there have been to be a combat with a man that is nonetheless on our UFC roster that will be not solely financially price it however legacy price it, it might be Alex Pereira,” Jones says. “I’ve simply been right here too lengthy to get all enthusiastic about somebody who’s scorching as we speak. I am right here for legacy. I have been playing for too lengthy to only take random fights.”
Nov. 14, 2024: White is not excited by Jones enjoying matchmaker, saying that if Jones chooses to proceed combating, Aspinall can be his subsequent opponent, not Pereira. “He isn’t combating Pereira,” White says. “[Pereira] was a middleweight that moved as much as gentle heavyweight. He is additionally a kickboxer who has completed very, very properly in MMA. His wrestling is not even close to the extent of Jon Jones, and Jon Jones is means larger than him.”
Nov. 16, 2024: Jones steps again into the Octagon for the primary time in a 12 months and a half and delivers a Spherical 3 spinning again kick that sends Miocic to the canvas to retain the heavyweight belt.
With Aspinall cageside, Jones says he would combat Aspinall provided that he had been supplied a “very, very excessive quantity.”
“I discover him annoying, and I simply don’t love him,” Jones says of Aspinall, “and on the finish of the day, if I give him the chance to combat me, I need to be so compensated — I need to say it, I would like that ‘f— you’ cash, truthfully.”
Nov. 18, 2024: In an interview on YouTube, Aspinall claims to have begun talks with the UFC for his subsequent combat however supplies no particulars. In the identical interview, Aspinall says it is his opinion that Georges St-Pierre is a better fighter than Jones as a result of “he is by no means failed for PEDs.” Jones was stripped of his heavyweight title after he examined optimistic for the anabolic steroid Turinabol in 2017.
Nov. 24, 2024: In one other YouTube video, Jones says his group is in negotiations with the UFC as properly, however Jones will not say whether or not Aspinall is the opponent nor will he give a touch as to a greenback determine he’s asking for. He’ll say solely {that a} return in 2025 is “greater than probably.”
Dec. 3, 2024: Now 4 months since his interim protection, Aspinall tells ESPN he is not excited by an extended layoff between fights. He says his prime precedence is changing into the undisputed heavyweight champion, whether or not or not he has to beat Jones to do it.
“Nothing actually pursuits me proper now apart from being the undisputed heavyweight champion on the earth. And that does not need to be in opposition to Jon,” Aspinall says. “If Jon needs to surrender the belt and do different stuff, I’m advantageous with that.
Dec. 14, 2024: At a postfight information convention for a UFC Struggle Night time from Tampa, Florida, White is requested if he’ll assure a combat between Jones and Aspinall. “Yeah, I will say one hundred pc,” he replies.
Feb. 5, 2025: Jones guarantees his X followers an announcement is coming.
In 24 hours I will be making an enormous announcement! #Andstill
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) February 5, 2025
Feb 6. 2025: The subsequent day, within the final fakeout, Jones posts a video wherein he publicizes his subsequent opponent will probably be … “the American healthcare system.” The clip is a Tremendous Bowl advert for a nonprofit concentrating on healthcare reform.
Might 14, 2025: MMA followers start to develop involved Jones is not severe about combating once more, prompting a web based petition to “let Dana White know: It’s time to strip Jon Jones of the heavyweight title.” Up to now, it has practically 200,000 signatures.
Might 19, 2025: Whereas in Thailand to educate in opposition to Nate Diaz on a actuality TV combating present referred to as “ALF International Actuality,” Jones engages with followers on-line who accuse him of ducking Aspinall and calling for him to be stripped of his belt. He claims the UFC is conscious of his future plans.
Yall barkin up the flawed tree, I advised the Ufc my plans a very long time in the past. I’ve no clue why they have not shared them with you guys but. https://t.co/sB4gPaqlzU
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) Might 19, 2025
I do not know if I wanna name it retired, I really feel like I will all the time have a capability to come out and present em. I’ve had many breaks all through my profession, my identification exterior of combating is properly intact. I am genuinely having fun with life, I am rising in numerous methods. https://t.co/XuH1diQVr1
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) Might 21, 2025
Might 26, 2025: This time it is Aspinall’s flip to get in on the announcement pleasure. He posts the message “Heavyweight information. Coming quickly” to his Instagram however is fast to remind his followers that the UFC sometimes publicizes official matches, not the fighters.
Might 28, 2025: Regardless of his warnings, followers are sad with one other pink herring when Aspinall’s announcement is a model partnership with the sportswear firm Champion.
June 2, 2025: Aspinall tells Chael Sonnen and Daniel Cormier on the “Good Man/Dangerous Man” podcast that he is prepared to maneuver on from “retired” Jon Jones.
“Jon Jones is retired,” Aspinall says. “I need to say God bless him shifting ahead in what he does together with his life and profession. We transfer on. I am the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I am able to tackle all comers and get this division shifting once more.”
June 6: Jones spends extra time responding to posts on X, claiming, amongst different issues, he is not coaching, he’d vacate the belt and he would entertain a combat with 2024 PFL heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
And keep in mind, you’ll be able to’t strip a man like me at this level I give the belt up freely. Veni, vidi, vici. 😘
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) June 6, 2025
I am listening to Francis Ngannou continues to be … now we’re speaking. That is an actual tremendous combat. A conflict of champions, not simply hype. He held the UFC belt, I’ve defended mine for over a decade. Two kings from completely different roads. Not only one legend dealing with a mouth that is scorching proper…
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) June 6, 2025
June 7, 2025: For the primary time in a number of months, White readdresses the Jones-Aspinall saga, saying on the information convention after UFC 316 it’s a “truth” that Jones agreed to a combat with Aspinall.
“Yeah, I have been saying it for the reason that starting, Jon Jones agreed to do the combat. Jon Jones was supplied the deal and accepted the deal,” White says. “You guys have heard me for the final nevertheless lengthy. I stated, ‘I assure this combat goes to occur.’ Sure, I have been saying Jon is gonna combat Tom.”
June 13, 2025: Again from filming in Thailand, Jones seems at a Soiled Boxing Championship occasion in Miami. A reporter asks if Jones is conscious of White’s declare that Jones agreed to combat Aspinall, to which he replies, “Is that what he stated?”
