(Video) UFC 316 Presser Hijacked by ‘Strip Jon Jones’ Chants from Loud Crowd

UFC fans chant against the heavyweight champion Jon Jones at the UFC 316 press conference.

(Video) UFC 316 Presser Hijacked by ‘Strip Jon Jones’ Chants from Loud Crowd

Jon Jones to be stripped, fans chant at UFC 316 presser (via X/Imago)

While the UFC tries its best to provide top-notch MMA action with pay-per-view events, fans still expect more frequent elite-level matchups. The promotion hasn’t given a clear picture of several fights, which naturally leads to confusion and rising dissatisfaction. The Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight title fight is one such matchup, and fans are furious over the long unexplained delay.

The UFC crowd can often be loud and persuasive about what they want from the biggest MMA promotion in the world. Recently, UFC held the press conference for the upcoming title fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 316. During the presser, a reporter asked Jon Anik about fans chanting about stripping Jones of his position

I think a fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is bigger if they are both champions. I’m hopeful that they are gonna fight in December in Las Vegas. I have no inside information but I don’t know if Jon Jones really gives a rip if they strip him.

Jon Anik via UFC 316 Presser

The chants were loud and many wanted Dana White, who is a big supporter of Jones, to attend the presser. An online petition with over 100K signatures demanding the UFC strip Jones of his title has now gone viral. However, ‘Bones’ doesn’t seem to care about the backlash and was recently seen in Thailand enjoying his life.

According to Jones, he’s at a stage in life where losing the title wouldn’t affect him emotionally or professionally. Aspinall, tired of waiting a full year, recently mocked Jones and urged the UFC legend to finally retire. The UK native refuses to become another Michael Chandler, endlessly waiting for Conor McGregor, and now wants to move on.

However, Aspinall revealed the UFC wasn’t letting him fight anyone else, which is ruining his prime fighting years. The fighter remains a fan favorite because of his knockout power and humble personality, making fans eager for more action. Still, the UFC appears unwilling to change plans, believing the Jones vs. Aspinall fight has the highest possible pay-per-view potential.

Jon Jones mocks Tom Aspinall amidst recent drama

Jon Jones has frequently dismissed Tom Aspinall’s callouts, offering various reasons to justify avoiding the highly anticipated heavyweight title showdown. At first, Jones claimed Aspinall was disrespectful during interviews and public appearances, which made him uninterested in sharing the cage. Later, Jones shifted tone and acknowledged Aspinall’s skill set, crediting him as a genuine threat inside the Octagon’s walls.

Jon Jones mocks Tom Aspinall on X
Jon Jones mocks Tom Aspinall on X (via Imago)

However, Jones mocked Aspinall’s short UFC resume, implying he hadn’t earned the right to fight for the undisputed belt. Earlier, Aspinall playfully provoked Jones to spark tension, but recently declared himself undisputed champion, challenging Jones’ current heavyweight dominance. In response, the youngest UFC champion ever fired back on X, ridiculing Aspinall’s claim and discrediting his popularity.

Unfortunately, my boy is not as special as his fan base thinks he is right now. I’ve seen Tom get tapped out twice now by two different people. Time will show. Here today gone tomorrow.

Jon Jones via X

Jones is on his final run as a fighter, aiming to secure the biggest payday before officially retiring forever. Initially, reports claimed he demanded $30 million, but recent negotiations brought the number down significantly to around $12 million. Experts believe the promotion has accepted the deal, suggesting an official announcement for Jones’ next fight may happen very soon.

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