Earlier this month in ‘The Big Apple’, following the conclusion of UFC 309, Dana White threw cold water on Jon Jones’ hopes for a lucrative, high-money fight against 205lbs king Alex Pereira. White cited Pereira’s inexperience and the weight disparity between the duo as the reason for dismissing the scrap. However, with recent developments, ‘Bones’ has reportedly now agreed to face Tom Aspinall. The fight is now in the works as Jones has started training, aiming to defend his championship against Aspinall for a unification heavyweight title to make it undisputed.
While the fight is finally expected to happen, Jon Jones faces a risky scenario. If he loses, his record will no longer be unblemished, and if he avoids the fight or retires, his heavyweight championship will be stripped. Chael Sonnen recently voiced concerns on the ‘Bad Guy/Good Guy’ podcast, stating, “But if Tom is an interim champion, then what’s Jon? Because everybody says he’s the undisputed champion. That is not possible. It is not possible to have two champions, and one of them is undisputed. So, the question becomes, if Tom is disputing that, then they must fight.”
‘The Bad Guy’ further pointed out the UFC’s leverage, warning that they could easily strip Jon Jones of his title if he continues to avoid fighting Aspinall. “And the UFC isn’t without leverage here. If they’ve kept the belt around Tom, it’s to let Jon know, ‘It’s no problem to pull that one off your waist. We’ve got another one sitting right over here. We’ve got world champions; they’re real easy to make over here at the UFC.”
However, the fight has yet to be confirmed by Dana White and the UFC. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall‘s father recently hinted at the venue where this highly anticipated heavyweight showdown might be scheduled, while also addressing Jon Jones’ dilemma.
Team Aspinall weighs in on Jon Jones’ ultimate fear
For any MMA fighter, one of the hardest things is waiting for the opportunity to become a true division champion, especially after claiming the interim title and defending it. Over a year has passed since Tom Aspinall first defended his interim title, and now, the long-anticipated negotiations for a unification bout with Jon Jones are gaining momentum. This has sparked excitement, particularly for Aspinall’s father and longtime coach, Andy Aspinall, who has been a constant presence in his son’s journey, traveling between the UK and the U.S. to guide his son’s career.
If this bout happens, it could easily become one of the most anticipated clashes of 2025. Jon Jones has expressed that only “f–k you money” would push him to face the Englishman, and Andy Aspinall has a strategy in mind to help make that happen. He suggested that the UFC should make Las Vegas the venue for the fight, noting, “I think it will happen in [Las] Vegas. It will happen in the place where they’ll make the most money, won’t it? That’s my opinion.”
Andy also speculated on Jones’ hesitation, stating, “I think he wants the fight to beat Tom, but he also doesn’t want to take that risk because he could lose. He’s not afraid to fight anyone, I’m sure, but I don’t think he wants to lose his unbeaten record.” This raises questions about whether ‘Bones’ is truly ready to face Aspinall, or if he is simply trying to protect his undefeated legacy.
Now, the decision rests with Dana White and Jon Jones. Will the fight be officially announced, or will ‘Bones’ retire without facing Aspinall to protect his perfect record? Only time will tell. What’s your take on this situation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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