“Made More Money Off of Tom Being Interim Champ!” Jon Jones Still Cold to Title Unification Fight, Rebounds on UFC’s Choice

Jon Jones hasn't really trained since he won in November 2024, willing to let go of the Tom Aspinall fight and the undisputed title.

“Made More Money Off of Tom Being Interim Champ!” Jon Jones Still Cold to Title Unification Fight, Rebounds on UFC’s Choice

Jon Jones shifts blame to UFC execs for unwillingness in Tom Aspinall fight (Source: X)

The fact that there is a undisputed as well as an interim UFC heavyweight champ, both not booked at the moment, is no more surprising than it has been since last year. Jon Jones, though, is nonchalantly willing to play the antagonist and give PPV title unification and Tom Aspinall the cold shoulder. According to “Bones”, it’s in his logical best interest, and he had told of this plan long ago.

Jon Jones’ rumored PPV monetary compensation and half a year out for another UFC title defense are still reportedly being negotiated. MMA veteran voice Chael Sonnen projected he has asked $12 million and was choosing not to duck out of it. However, with him seemingly being ready for it and conditions being right, Jon Jones has still been antagonizing fans waiting for a Tom Aspinall-shaped fight.

Bones even told recently that he hasn’t really trained since defending his gold 7 months earlier at the PPV headliner in November, and that his body was too tired to do so. While some fans took to his tweet spree, some urged him to vacate, which he hasn’t yet. Jones presented that in doing so, he’s just going along with the cog, and he had told UFC execs of his plan already.

I spoke to the UFC a long time ago about what my future plans were. I haven’t really worked out since my last fight in New York City. Honestly, I believe it’s been in the UFC’s best interest to keep presenting me as the company’s champion—not Tom.
I’ve just been playing the role of the company man by doing nothing at all… and holding the position. And truthfully, it’s been incredibly lucrative. I’ve made more money off of Tom being the interim champ than Tom has himself.
It sucks to see the rest of the division get slowed down like this, but that has nothing to do with me. I don’t pull the strings.

Jon Jones via X (@JonnyBones)

The fighter out of Albuquerque has once again shifted the whole load on UFC’s choice. Which is to say, UFC execs are to pin for Aspinall having to cross a ginormous threshold and now stay stale as the longest-active UFC interim champ. The UK native last fought even three months prior to Jones and punctuated a first-round KO at UFC 304.

During a training seminar Q&A at Bangtao Muay Thai MMA gym in Thailand, Jones did say that there are plans he can’t come and say outright. But that he and Tom Aspinall were remaining tight-lipped for now; the American superstar later teased a 2026 octagon return. However, his endless historian of war and ‘pursuit of happiness’ Twitter teases later say otherwise.

Asinall even disregarded the info and has said he is moving on to the next fight. It’s a fate Jones has hinted he will easily acclimate to and even give up the belt. Meanwhile, though, he has taken umbrage with other matters in the course of this unification saga.

Champ Jon Jones hits back on old foes Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen amid PPV unification saga

Jon Jones, 37, often douses his advanced age and how the Brit interim UFC champ is a fledgling name to do anything to his career. That is to mean there is a sizable downside in him taking this fight, even if he wins; been there, done that. Downwind from all the Tom Aspinall fight talk, though, it’s easy to notice this will be the easiest bankable PPV super fight Jones can make.

Jon Jones doesn't take well to criticism on legacy amid UFC PPV unification saga
Jon Jones doesn’t take well to criticism on legacy amid UFC PPV unification saga (Source: X)

Even the UFC brass agreed that this is the biggest fight to make. Not to mention, it has logjammed the state of division as well. However, Jones has two HW competition logs in five years, with a three-year shift, and another out on a pectoral injury.

Sonnen and his ESPN ‘Good Guy / Bad Guy’ podcast co-host Daniel Cormier (a Jon Jones rival with notoriety) have also broken down how Jones’ status is dwindling and the interest around this fight is going stale. Tom Aspinall has shown he’s willing to take up other fights, after all. They have also doubled down that Jones isn’t a big Pay-per-view or perpetuity royalty merch draw and needs this fight. Bones hasn’t liked that one bit:

Jon Jones whooped both of y’all, but hey — why not team up on a podcast and gossip about his life? Meanwhile, he’s out here making your annual salary in a week. Stay busy, boys.

Jon Jones via X

Jones’ 265-pound run has been weirdly anything but undisputed. The UFC GOAT candidate is essentially just holding onto the belt as a marketing prop with the existence of a substitute hardware, and he’s being fully transparent about it. Should the UFC register any objections, they are well-versed in the appropriate course of action. As for the dangers of being stripped by the commission, the undisputed champ is open to that, too.

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