The tension between the interim heavyweight champion and the heavyweight champion is intensifying. Jon Jones recently made it clear that Tom Aspinall wasn’t on his radar. Jones continued brushing him aside despite the Brit’s interim title. He had a different fighter in mind for his next defense.
Jones recently took to social media platform X. ‘Bones’ revealed that he didn’t see Tom Aspinall as the interim champion. Jones believed that Aspinall was just a contender after Stipe Miocic. He downplayed his interim champion status, saying Appinall took it by fighting a contender.
From my POV, it feels more like number one contender after Stipe.
Jon Jones via X
Jones had recently stated that he would want to fight Alex Pereira next. This fight would potentially be after his fight with Stipe Miocic. Jones dismissed the idea of fighting Aspinall to unify the belts. He had his eyes set on the fan-favorite Pereira. The light heavyweight king also accepted the fight against Jones.
This potential fight between Pereira and Jones would leave Aspinall hanging. He would be unable to fight to unify the belts at heavyweight. As for now, Aspinall is set to fight at UFC 304 in Manchester against an undisclosed opponent. Only time will tell if the UFC will push for a title unification bout at heavyweight.
Jon Jones believes that Tom Aspinall is just a UK sensation
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones isn’t too impressed with interim titleholder Tom Aspinall. In fact, the all-time great pretty much dismissed the Brit as irrelevant outside his home nation. This caused a lot of buzz in the MMA community.
Jon Jones doesn’t think Tom Aspinall is too popular (via Eurosport/ Bleacher Report) In a recent social media rant, Jones questioned why fans want him to fight Aspinall. He stated that Pereira was a much bigger draw worldwide, while Aspinall was only famous in the UK. ‘Bones’ further stated that he wanted the money fight, and Aspinall wasn’t the way to this.
You actually think me fighting Tom would be more massive than Alex and I colliding? Tom only matters in the UK, newsflash. Pereira is one of the most polarizing figures this sport has seen. Toms a contender who won a belt against another contender. We had to save Madison Square Gardens main event. I’m thinking dollar signs, legacy, big picture here. Not what UK fans are dying to see. Literally just went through this with the French fans.
Jon Jones via X
You actually think me fighting Tom would be more massive than Alex and I colliding? Tom only matters in the UK, newsflash. Pereira is one of the most polarizing figures this sport has seen. Toms a contender who won a belt against another contender. We had to save Madison Square… https://t.co/JatZed5UUO
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 3, 2024
Jones clearly wasn’t viewing Aspinall as a truly elite challenge worthy of his attention. Aspinall had called out Jones multiple times. The fired-up Brit would surely use it as fuel to prove he’s more than a local curiosity. Fight fans would be ecstatic if the UFC eventually set up this fight.
