Jon Jones expressed frustration after UFC President Dana White confirmed that the winner of UFC 309’s main event would face interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. The announcement stirred up the already intense atmosphere ahead of Jones’ clash with Stipe Miocic at Madison Square Garden this Saturday night.
The legendary two-division champion will defend his heavyweight title against Miocic, a two-time former champion regarded as one of the greatest heavyweights in UFC history. However, the fight’s buildup has been overshadowed by Aspinall’s rising star. The Manchester native, who defended his interim title after Jones claimed the vacant strap in March, has been a hot topic all week, despite skipping Thursday night’s press conference. His name alone sparked loud applause at the event.
During the press conference, when White was asked about the possibility of a title unification fight at heavyweight, he confirmed, “The winner should absolutely fight Tom.” The response drew massive support from the crowd, but Jones was visibly irritated. Addressing fans who were chanting for Aspinall, Jones snapped, “Knock it off,” signaling his displeasure with the situation.
Dana White Sets the Record Straight
White further elaborated on The Jim Rome Show, stating that if Jones decides to continue fighting after Saturday night, his next opponent will unquestionably be Aspinall. He dismissed the idea of Jones facing Alex Pereira, a former middleweight champion who recently moved up to light heavyweight, explaining that Pereira’s skill set and size don’t pose the same challenge as Aspinall.
“If Jon wins, he’ll probably disappear for a while, but the competitive spirit always comes back,” White explained. “And then money talks. If he doesn’t retire, he absolutely, positively fights Aspinall. He’s not fighting Pereira. Pereira’s wrestling isn’t on Jon’s level, and Jon is way bigger. If he fights again, it’ll be Tom Aspinall.”
Jones Calls Out Aspinall and His Fans
Jones, however, seems disinterested in a showdown with Aspinall, claiming he would rather face established names to solidify his legacy. He also took issue with Aspinall’s approach, branding the interim champion an “a**hole” and accusing him of being disrespectful during the buildup to UFC 309.
“Tom’s been such an a**hole that I don’t even want to do business with him,” Jones said during media day. “His fans have been annoying, and he comes from this influencer generation where it’s all about T-shirt sales and social media clout. That’s not me anymore.”
Jones added that Aspinall’s attitude had soured any potential for mutual respect. “If he had shown a little more class, maybe we could’ve worked something out. But I don’t want to give him the chance to fight me and change his life forever. He played his cards wrong.”
A Clash of Paths
As Jones prepares for one of the biggest fights of his career, the tension surrounding a potential future bout with Aspinall looms large. Whether he wins or loses against Miocic, it seems the UFC is determined to make Jones vs. Aspinall happen. However, given the animosity between the two fighters, it’s clear that this matchup is anything but guaranteed.
