UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has taken to social media to criticize the narrative that every new fighter is the one to finally challenge him, as he prepares to face former champion Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 295, despite fans’ high expectations for a clash with Tom Aspinall.
Jon Jones, renowned UFC light heavyweight champion, took some time off from his reign to bulk up and win the vacant heavyweight belt in 2023 against Ciryl Gane. Recently, Jones has taken to social media, criticizing the prevalent narrative that each upcoming contender is the one to finally give him a real challenge. This narrative seems to follow him even as he enters his new heavyweight era after years of dominating the light heavyweight division.
In the main event of UFC 295 on November 11, Jones is slated to face former champion Stipe Miocic. Much anticipation and speculations are already brewing among fans for a possible future faceoff between Jones and Tom Aspinall. Aspinall, the English up-and-comer, gained notoriety after he walked through Marcin Tybura in just 73 seconds at the recently concluded UFC London event held at the O2 Arena.
Jones is unimpressed and unfazed by these discussions. He took to Twitter, in a series of now-deleted tweets, sharing his frustrations. He writes, “Sometimes I feel like I’ve been in a déjà vu, everyone’s going to be the guy to kick my ass. Meanwhile, I’m over here undefeated with a face full of gray hairs.” He continued, expressing his weariness at the pre-match hype that usually surrounds his opponents. According to him, half the time, these opponents don’t even win their subsequent fights. He concluded, “Everyone’s the next big thing until I beat them.”
As the narrative evolves, Miocic will challenge Jones even though he lost his last bout, a second-round knockout to Francis Ngannou in March 2021. Ngannou has since completed his UFC contract and signed with PFL, setting his sights on challenging boxing great Tyson Fury next. Aspinall is also eyeing a shot at Jones, signaling that he wants to face the winner of UFC Paris’ Gane versus Sergey Spivak match, further heating up the heavyweight division.