UFC Veteran Hopeful About Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Due to Key Negotiation Factor

UFC veteran believes Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall will definitely happen by highlighting some intricate details.

UFC Veteran Hopeful About Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Due to Key Negotiation Factor

Matt Brown is confident about the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight (via Imago)

After several months of speculation, the UFC heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall remains officially unannounced. Aspinall has already defended his interim title impressively and now holds the record as the longest-reigning interim heavyweight champion ever. The constant delay has created immense frustration for both the UK native and the passionate global UFC fans.

Recently, Jones was seen relaxing in Thailand, where he went viral for subtly dropping hints about his potential retirement. During an interview with Daniel Cormier, Aspinall sarcastically claimed Jones was retired and he was the real undisputed champion. While many signs suggest the fight won’t happen, UFC veteran Matt Brown recently shared a completely different and hopeful perspective.

We don’t know the facts of what’s going on behind the scenes. We don’t know what’s been said from Jon’s side or Aspinall’s side. I do give Aspinall the benefit of the doubt. If he didn’t think the Jon Jones fight was going to happen, he probably would have taken another fight.

Matt Brown on Jones vs. Aspinall fight

According to Brown, Jones was causing the constant delay because he enjoyed maintaining a certain level of control and power. Jones is undeniably UFC’s biggest cash cow, which is why he holds significant influence over the decisions within the organization. If Jones refuses, the UFC might book Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane, but it won’t generate record-breaking pay-per-view numbers or hype.

UFC CEO Dana White knows this is the biggest fight on the roster and has worked on it for months now. In addition, Aspinall mentioned the UFC hasn’t allowed him to take any other fights while negotiations are ongoing. Jones also stated the UFC will likely announce it soon, which has sparked renewed hope among disappointed fans.

UFC veteran believes Jon Jones won’t retire without fighting Tom Aspinall

Since becoming UFC heavyweight champion, Jon Jones has defended his belt once and continuously avoided fighting Tom Aspinall altogether. It was initially believed Jones demanded an enormous $30 million for the fight, but recent reports say it was $12 million. Jones also requested a six-month preparation period for the bout, but never provided a specific timeline or commitment to fight.

Jon Jones is not afraid to fight Tom Aspinall
Jon Jones is not afraid to fight Tom Aspinall (via Imago)

As expected, these circumstances created a narrative accusing Jon Jones of avoiding a young and hungry title contender like Aspinall. An internet petition recently went viral, gathering over 100,000 signatures demanding Jones be stripped of his heavyweight title status. However, in a recent podcast, UFC veteran Chael Sonnen shared his perspective on Jones’ complex mentality regarding this fight.

I have a very hard time imagining that Jon is going to walk away from [$40 million]. I know publicly, he likes to have some fun. I know that you can hurt his feelings on Twitter, and he’ll change his whole outlook just for those 10 people that did it. But the real guy in there, that’s a dirty, grimy competitor. That’s the same guy who busted his toe against yours truly. He finds a way, and I just don’t think that fire has burned out.

Chael Sonnen via The Ariel Helwani Show

Aspinall has already confirmed he won’t wait endlessly for Jones like Michael Chandler did for Conor McGregor’s return. He doesn’t want to waste his prime years and earn as much money as possible by being an active fighter.

Additionally, other top heavyweight contenders have begun pressuring the UFC as Jones continues putting the entire division on hold. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how things unfold and how the UFC eventually chooses to resolve this situation.

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