Jon Jones demands ‘six months’ for UFC title unification as Tom Aspinall fight chances on the fritz and ‘slipping away’

Report: UFC heavyweight Jon Jones in need of 'six months' to prep for a Tom Aspinall heavyweight unification title defense.

Jon Jones demands ‘six months’ for UFC title unification as Tom Aspinall fight chances on the fritz and ‘slipping away’

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall facing more delay (via Imago)

It’s always great to see ‘GOAT’ Jon Jones, the tactician that he is, return for a fight. After November’s Pay-per-view headliner spot at UFC 309, he is now 2-0 in his new weight class. Nevertheless, his arrival is also causing a logjam at the 265-pound class more than ever. Per early reports, Jones will need a six-month span for a title unification with Tom Aspinall.

Brit Tom Aspinall cued in when Jon Jones was out on a pectoral tear. Aspinall has held the belt for some 400+ days and could soon cross the very rare threshold of it being the highest. Tom Aspinall has pleaded. fought and won at the UFC 304 PPV, baited, ignored, and boss-trapped for unification. But Jones did not consider him a big enough option. Now, seemingly, he’ll need time even if he does.

Well, clock is ticking on [a summer showdown], because I was told that Jon wants six months to prepare once the fight is locked in, …And what’s six months from now? September? Now I’m sure money talks, but it feels like the summer — if that is the goal — is starting to slip away a little bit…

MMA Journo Ariel Helwani on ‘Uncrowned’ Combat UFC 313 post-fight show (@ArielHelwani)
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UFC CEO Dana White told the UFC 313 PPV media scrum that fans need to relax as this fight will happen. White even touted his nth installment of a 100-percent guarantee that Jon Jones isn’t ducking and wants a PPV title unification booked.

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Many have previously theorized that him demanding a “f—k you” amount in fighter compensation so that he could retire. It means that he was just playing mind games and driving up the bargain. In this way, he can also take time out of Aspinall’s career.

It might be just as his other golden goose is out to dry until a rematch. Both he and Alex Pereira were touting themselves biggest options for a super fight. However, with Pereira out of the equation, rightful name Tom Aspinall makes the most sense. One name is taking Jones’ pre-fight conditions with a negative tinge, though.

Chael Sonnen throws shade at Jon Jones’ nonchalance and odd demand for time before Tom Aspinall fight

Chael Sonnen has Biggest biceps in West Lynn, Oregon. He is someone Jon Jones refused to fight on short-notice. Sonnen caught wind of Jon Jones wanting six months for a title unifier vs. Tom Aspinall. Now, to his point, Sonnen is asking what the blazes would that even entail.

UFC heavyweight Jon Jones faces wrath for latest demands
UFC heavyweight Jon Jones faces wrath for latest demands (Source: X)

This is on the lines of to the victor goes the spoils. UFC fighters can make demands and big disclaimers when in the right space or off a recent win. A loser saying he had Staphylococcus (staph) or injury is frowned upon but not the winner.

Similarly ‘Bones’ has been the thorn in unification chances for over a year. Sonnen felt the UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones asking for time would be in bad regard. This is especially since the talks have been on for months now.

Did he not know that the undisputed champ was going to take on the interim champ? What do you mean you need six months? Six months from when?

Chael Sonnen on his YT Channel (H/T: @DovySimuMMA on X)

Jon Jones returning at all remains uncertain; his previous teases have fallen flat. After going through Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, he also first hinted at retirement, regressing afterward. The promotion’s No. 2 pound-for-pound name has also asked for big compensations to stay on against a fledgling Aspinall.

The champion asking six months out could very well also mean he’s not saying no, but spacing it out. That way, Aspinall himself might move on or lose the interim strap. Once again, a single thought from Jones has halted the UFC heavyweight logistics for months.

Related: Jon Jones is ‘pricing himself out’ of a Tom Aspinall UFC Fight, here’s why