Jon Jones Says ‘Yes’ to Tom Aspinall but Not for UFC Superfight

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones calls out Tom Aspinall and Francis Ngannou for a fight but with a huge twist.

Jon Jones Says ‘Yes’ to Tom Aspinall but Not for UFC Superfight

Jon Jones wants to fight Tom Aspinall or Francis Ngannou but not in the UFC (via Imago)

Jon Jones has been taking an immense amount of heat for not fighting the UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. At the last stint of his professional career, Jones is focused on getting the biggest paycheck and financial security before retiring. He doesn’t think fighting Aspinall will add anything valuable to his legacy, accomplishments, or long-term standing in UFC history.

However, recent developments have suggested a way around it, offering hope for fans, but the situation remains far from simple. Jones recently teamed up with UFC veteran Mike Perry to launch a new fighting promotion called Dirty Boxing, drawing major attention. In a recent interview, Jones was asked about his UFC return and he clearly laid out his specific comeback conditions.

If you come to dirty boxing. You will find out tomorrow night. Whoever comes to dirty boxing, yes.

Jon Jones via X

Since Jones has been away from UFC’s limelight, he has shifted his focus towards his business ventures to add to his wealth. As a result, he has time to promote his fighting promotion and has used this opportunity to do so. Similar to Conor McGregor with BKFC, Jones is trying his best to utilize his name to promote Dirty Boxing.

Nonetheless, after waiting for over a year, Aspinall has already given up on the idea of fighting Jones for heavyweight unification. He recently declared himself the undisputed champion, confidently stating that Jones has already retired from professional mixed martial arts. Aspinall has also received long-awaited support from UFC CEO Dana White, who now sees him as the future of heavyweight.

UFC veteran calls out the heavyweight division for the lack of efficiency

The heavyweight division in the UFC was once the most lethal, stacked with monsters like Cain Velasquez, Stipe Miocic, and Francis Ngannou. Legends clashed with raw power and skill, delivering unforgettable wars that kept fans hooked and terrified by every single punch. Now, things are different, with Jon Jones halting the momentum and top contenders left in limbo without a clear title direction.

Jon Jones and the heavyweight division gets called out by Chael Sonnen
Jon Jones and the heavyweight division gets called out by Chael Sonnen (via X)

This uncertainty has drained excitement from the division that was once the UFC’s most feared and thrilling battlefield. Tom Aspinall has already beaten top contenders, while others seem uninterested in claiming their shot. In a recent YouTube rant, Chael Sonnen called out the division’s lack of ambition, accusing heavyweights of being inactive and avoiding real competition.

I mean, the heavyweights are the biggest bunch of cowards that we’ve got. We’ve got a sport that’s full of tough guys. But if you were to condense them down, like who is truly the biggest wimp, it would have to be the heavyweights. Like you don’t really have a choice, you don’t have an interim champion in your division because your division is strong; you don’t have an unwilling champion heading up your division because your division is courageous. You don’t have two belt holders in a division that can’t agree on a date where they’re going to come, roll their sleeves up and figure this out.

Chael Sonnen via his YT Channel

Top heavyweights such as Curtis Blaydes and Alexander Volkov have already spoken of stripping Jones of the heavyweight title. However, UFC’s lack of clarity has given ‘Bones’ the leverage to use his fame to control the negotiations. Jones wants a huge paycheck before hanging up his gloves and it seems like the UFC is ready to give that.

However, fighting a young knockout artist like Aspinall comes with a risk of Jones losing his legacy. The American fighter has often shown insecurity when it comes to his fighting record and won’t take hasty decisions out of public pressure.

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