Despite interim champion Tom Aspinall‘s frustration and claims of ducking, Jon Jones remains resolute in his decision to fight Stipe Miocic later this year, potentially retiring afterward.
Jon Jones is set to fight Stipe Miocic, no matter what.
Jones won the UFC heavyweight title 17 months ago by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. He was scheduled to defend it against Miocic at UFC 296 before an injury forced him out. Since then, Jones has been recovering with plans to return against Miocic later this year, despite interim champion Tom Aspinall’s emergence.
Aspinall appears increasingly frustrated by Jones’ insistence on fighting Miocic — who is 42 and hasn’t competed in over three years — rather than unifying their titles. He even suggested earlier this week that “there’s no way on Earth” Jones will ever fight him. And Jones isn’t doing much to dissuade that notion.
On Tuesday, Jones took to social media with a series of posts about Aspinall, his legacy in the sport, and his resolve to fight Miocic.
“Looks like Tom displaying that amazing UK wrestling,” Jones posted. "My focus is on Stipe; he actually wrestled Division One. Best heavyweight of all time as of right now. Maybe Tom will go on and beat Stipe’s record one day, right now I’m focusing on GOAT things.”
“Haha man, you guys have been really begging me lately,” Jones continued. "Is the heavyweight division really that boring without me?”
“The beautiful thing about being in my position is, I’m not defined by one fight," Jones added. "Most of you grew up watching me win.”
“I guess there was a video that resurfaced recently of me saying that after Stipe, Francis was the only fight I was interested in," Jones clarified. "That video was recorded well over a year ago."
“That was recorded before I got injured, before there was an interim champion crowned," he explained. "I had already voiced that I wasn’t interested in any more randoms."
"Now magically I’m ducking a fight that’s never been negotiated or discussed at any table that matters," he laughed. "Lol I’m sticking to my plans; Jon Jones jumps for no one."
"How many belts does one need? How many times do I have to break my own record?”
“There are fighters literally all over the world that think in the back of their mind they can beat Jon Jones," he remarked. "There will be no statues of you."
"Go out and win more, make your name greater, that’s the only way you do it.”
“I’m 37 years old now; I’ve kicked everyone’s ass," he stated bluntly. "My job is to finish strong and make an amazing movie."
"Go join Tom Brady, Floyd Mayweather, and all the other retired badasses.”
“It feels good to know on the way out your sport was literally begging you to continue," he mused. "You never know; maybe the UFC will offer me a deal I can’t refuse.”
“Interesting,” he concluded, “from my point of view it seems like an amazing way to finish this good work I started so long ago.”
Meanwhile, Aspinall also posted a skit on Instagram mocking Jones for ducking him.
“Where are you Jon Jones? Is it time for retirement?” Aspinall asked.
Aspinall responded directly to Jones’ comments, interpreting them as Jones saying he will retire following the Miocic fight and taking shots at him for insisting on fighting Miocic.
“Wonder if it was that video or my fighting that retired him?" Aspinall quipped.
"Please make sure you pass me the belt on the way out of the octagon if you beat Biden.”
While no official date has been set, it’s widely believed that Jones will face Miocic on November 16 at UFC 309 in Madison Square Garden.