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 concerned with obliging.
He will be forgiven for not entertaining the battle initially as a result of he was recovering from damage. However Jones is the explanation there was an interim heavyweight championship battle; 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 successfully defended his interim belt in opposition to Curtis Blaydes in July 2024. So when Jones knocked out Miocic in his return from damage at UFC 309 in November, a unifying bout between Jones and Aspinall grew to become the one logical subsequent step.
But, right here we’re, almost a yr since Aspinall’s final battle, and nonetheless a unifying bout hasn’t been booked. UFC president Dana White continues to guarantee the MMA neighborhood that the battle 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 special 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 yr and resolve for your self.
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Dana White: Jon Jones is just not afraid to battle Tom Aspinall
Dana White explains to Stephen A. Smith that Jon Jones has by no means turned down a battle 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 very best finisher within the UFC, if I begin to snowball you, you are achieved,” Aspinall tells the Manchester, England, crowd at UFC 304 throughout his postfight interview. “Who desires to see Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones?”
Nov. 7, 2024: Main as much as the rescheduled Miocic battle, Jones bristles at the concept that he’ll face Aspinall if he will get previous Miocic, implying Aspinall is not his degree 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 achieved something,” Jones says in an interview. “I am not right here to gamble on another person making a reputation off of me.”
As a substitute, Jones hints that he might entertain retirement after the battle. He also floats a champion vs. champion match in opposition to then-light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
“If there have been to be a battle with a man that is nonetheless on our UFC roster that might 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 at present. I am right here for legacy. I have been playing for too lengthy to only take random fights.”
Nov. 14, 2024: White is not concerned with Jones taking part in matchmaker, saying that if Jones chooses to proceed combating, Aspinall can be his subsequent opponent, not Pereira. “He is not combating Pereira,” White says. “[Pereira] was a middleweight that moved as much as gentle heavyweight. He is additionally a kickboxer who has achieved very, very properly in MMA. His wrestling is not even close to the extent of Jon Jones, and Jon Jones is means greater than him.”
Nov. 16, 2024: Jones steps again into the Octagon for the primary time in a yr 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 battle Aspinall provided that he had been supplied a “very, very excessive quantity.”
“I discover him annoying, and I simply do not like him,” Jones says of Aspinall, “and on the finish of the day, if I give him the chance to battle 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 battle however offers 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.
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Daniel Cormier: Jon Jones ‘out of his thoughts’ saying he’d beat me at heavyweight
Daniel Cormier refutes Jon Jones declare that Jones might have overwhelmed him at heavyweight.
Nov. 24, 2024: In one other YouTube video, Jones says his crew 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 concerned with an extended layoff between fights. He says his high 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 aside from being the undisputed heavyweight champion on the earth. And that does not must be in opposition to Jon,” Aspinall says. “If Jon desires to surrender the belt and do different stuff, I’m nice with that.
Dec. 14, 2024: At a postfight information convention for a UFC Struggle Evening from Tampa, Florida, White is requested if he’ll assure a battle between Jones and Aspinall. “Yeah, I am going to say 100%,” 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 during which he publicizes his subsequent opponent can be … “the American healthcare system.” The clip is a Tremendous Bowl advert for a nonprofit focusing 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.” Thus far, it has almost 200,000 signatures.
Might 19, 2025: Whereas in Thailand to teach in opposition to Nate Diaz on a actuality TV combating present referred to as “ALF World 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 improper tree, I instructed 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) May 19, 2025
I do not know if I wanna name it retired, I really feel like I am going to all the time have a capability to come out and present em. I’ve had many breaks all through my profession, my id exterior of combating is properly intact. I am genuinely having fun with life, I am rising in several methods. https://t.co/XuH1diQVr1
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) May 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’s ready to move 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 battle with 2024 PFL heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
And bear in mind, you possibly can’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 remains to be … now we’re speaking. That is an actual tremendous battle. 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 battle with Aspinall.
“Yeah, I have been saying it because the starting, Jon Jones agreed to do the battle. Jon Jones was supplied the deal and accepted the deal,” White says. “You guys have heard me for the final nonetheless lengthy. I stated, ‘I assure this battle goes to occur.’ Sure, I have been saying Jon is gonna battle 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 battle Aspinall, to which he replies, “Is that what he stated?”