Tom Aspinall believes Jon Jones is at a crossroads, stating it’s time for Jones to either face him in the octagon or step away from the sport.
Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champion, has been seeking a unification bout with Jones for over a year. Despite Aspinall’s interim status, Jones, the current UFC heavyweight champion, last defended his title against Stipe Miocic and emerged victorious. Following that win, Jones indicated that fighting Aspinall would require an exorbitant sum of money, seemingly hinting at a preference for a superfight with Alex Pereira, who was then the light heavyweight champion.
However, plans shifted when Pereira recently lost his title to Magomed Ankalaev. Aspinall, while not celebrating another fighter’s defeat, acknowledges that Ankalaev’s victory might be beneficial for his own aspirations to fight Jones.
Aspinall joked about Jones’s reaction to Pereira’s loss, suggesting it disrupted Jones’s plans for a different fight. He clarified that he respects Pereira and his achievements but recognizes the timing of the title change could improve his chances of facing Jones.
UFC CEO Dana White previously seemed hesitant about a Jones versus Pereira superfight, and now that possibility appears even less likely. According to Aspinall, this leaves Jones with only two paths: a fight with Aspinall or retirement.
Aspinall argues that if Jones chooses to retire, it will be perceived as avoiding a fight with him, leaving no other credible matchups for Jones in the heavyweight division. Therefore, Aspinall sees the current situation as favorable for him.
Aspinall remains hopeful that the fight will materialize. Despite reports suggesting Jones desires a lengthy preparation period for an Aspinall fight, the interim champion is optimistic based on discussions with UFC leadership, who have indicated to him that the fight is intended to happen. Aspinall emphasizes he trusts the UFC’s assurances.
