“I Didn’t Want Khabib to Retire…” Dana White Tired of Jon Jones Antics in Attempts to Make Tom Aspinall Super Fight

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones might retire from the UFC without fighting interim champion Tom Aspinall.

“I Didn’t Want Khabib to Retire…” Dana White Tired of Jon Jones Antics in Attempts to Make Tom Aspinall Super Fight

Dana White on Jon Jones' potential retirement (via X/Imago)

UFC fans are absolutely frustrated with the current heavyweight situation of the UFC as Jon Jones keeps avoiding Tom Aspinall. The heavyweight champion has fought only once since winning the UFC championship belt back in the year of 2023. UFC CEO Dana White had previously promised fans this highly anticipated fight, but some things are not in his control.

Jones doesn’t need to stick around much longer and has often hinted about a potential retirement from the UFC in the future. If that happens, the fight with Aspinall will be in serious jeopardy, disappointing fans and Dana White. During the recent post-fight presser at UFC 316, White was asked about the same, and he shared his honest opinion.

If the guy wants to retire and doesn’t want to fight, nothing you can do. I didn’t want Khabib to retire. I thought DC should have stayed a bit longer. It’s none of my business. I will do what I can to make the fight.

Dana White via UFC 316 post-fight presser

Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his retirement in October 2020, shocking fans and leaving his career seemingly incomplete. Many believed his retirement was premature, as he was undefeated and still dominating every opponent without showing signs of slowing down. White wanted him to continue fighting and strongly believed Nurmagomedov hadn’t reached his full potential inside the octagon yet.

He tried to convince the Dagestani by offering rematches, big money fights, and meetings, but the ‘Eagle’ remained retired. Similarly, Jones has been in the fighting business for over a decade and achieved everything the sport has to offer. He holds the record of being the youngest UFC champion ever and has the most title defenses.

Throughout UFC’s history, many veterans struggled to leave the sport at the right time, ruining their legacy with multiple losses. Anderson Silva, Jose Aldo, and Tony Ferguson are examples, with Ferguson going on an unfortunate eight-fight losing streak recently. However, Jones is smarter and wants to leave the sport without tarnishing his legacy or suffering a severe injury.

Jon Jones gets approval from the former UFC heavyweight champion

Due to the constant delay in the heavyweight title unification bout, Jon Jones has faced an array of criticism from fans. Many have accused him of running away from Tom Aspinall and have initiated an online petition to strip him of his status. However, ‘Bones’ doesn’t necessarily concern himself with that and has frequently discredited Aspinall.

Jon Jones wants to fight Francis Ngannou next
Jon Jones wants to fight Francis Ngannou next (via Imago)

According to Jones, Aspinall doesn’t have the legacy or popularity required to earn a high-profile fight against him yet. In contrast, Jones showed clear interest in fighting former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou for a massive legacy-defining showdown. Jones claimed Ngannou is a tougher and more worthy challenger, and the former champion even responded positively to that potential fight.

You take care of the UFC, I’ll take care of the PFL, and we’ll finally find out who’s the KING OF THE HEAVYWEIGHT.

Jones and Ngannou were originally expected to fight for the heavyweight title in one of UFC’s biggest matchups ever. However, Ngannou left the UFC in early 2023 due to contract disputes, making the highly anticipated bout completely fall apart. Since then, both have shared various heated exchanges online, accusing each other of ducking and avoiding the mega clash.

Following that, Ngannou also had a fallout with Dana White, further damaging any hopes of a potential return to UFC. When asked about recent developments, White immediately shut down the possibility of a Jones vs Ngannou fight happening now.

The UFC boss clearly wants Tom Aspinall to fight for the title and is not considering anyone else at all. It will definitely be interesting to see how things unfold in the heavyweight division over the coming months.

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