UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones says a future fight with interim title holder Tom Aspinall is “definitely not off the table”

By Fernando Quiles - February 12, 2024

Jon Jones will not dismiss the possibility of fighting interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

Tom Aspinall Jon Jones

Jones is the main UFC heavyweight champion, but he couldn’t go through with a planned defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 back in November 2023. Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle, and had to be sidelined. As a result, Aspinall was booked to face Sergei Pavlovich for the interim gold. Aspinall scored a first-round knockout win.

Since that fight, the surging heavyweight has criticized the UFC for going through with plans for Jones vs. Miocic. “Bones” may have put Aspinall’s mind at ease a bit with his recent comments.

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Jon Jones Won’t Shut The Door On Tom Aspinall Fight

During an interview with Submission Radio, Jon Jones made it clear that he is not shutting down the possibility of sharing the Octagon with Tom Aspinall (h/t MMAMania.com).

“The Tom fight is definitely not off the table,” Jones said. “Especially with how I’ve been feeling being out here. I feel just totally reinvigorated and just re-energized being around all these fans. So, I can’t just walk away. So, the ball is rolling in a really positive direction for me to continue my career.”

“Bones” pointed out that Aspinall doesn’t have the status to dictate what he does with his pro MMA career going forward.

“A lot of people don’t acknowledge that: there will always will be another awesome contender,” he said. “It’s the UFC’s job to build the next big thing. And it’s my job to realize when you are enough and you have done enough, you’ve provided for your family, you’ve created the life for your people.

“And so I don’t know. I really don’t know what’s gonna be next. I’m just taking it one thing at a time. That’s my respect to Stipe, is just to take it one thing at a time, and to respect him as a challenge that he will be. As impressive as Tom is, he’s not important enough yet to determine my schedules and my decisions. That’s fair enough, huh?”

We’ll keep you up to speed on Jon Jones’ fighting future once details on his return time frame become available.


Topics:

Jon Jones Tom Aspinall UFC