Jon Jones is uninterested in fighting interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, as he seeks legacy-defining bouts and lucrative matchups, such as those against proven fighters like Alex Pereira, rather than facing rising contenders.
Jon Jones isn’t budging when it comes to a fight with Tom Aspinall. No way, no how.
Currently, the heavyweight champ is gearing up for a title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Nov. 16. It’s his first defense since snagging the title over 20 months ago. Meanwhile, Aspinall claimed the interim heavyweight title and even defended it during Jones’ absence.
Typically, you’d expect a champ to face off against the interim titleholder in a unification bout. But Jones? He’s not interested. In an interview with the NY Post, he was asked if there was anything Aspinall could do to change his mind.
“Really nothing,” Jones replied. “I find him annoying… I’ve been here forever, and he just showed up in the UFC. If he wanted to fight me, he should’ve been here sooner. Where’s he been all this time?”
Aspinall snagged interim gold by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich in the first round at UFC 295 a year ago. Then, he bulldozed Curtis Blaydes in a title defense at UFC 304 in July.
Sure, Jones acknowledges Aspinall’s talent. But he’s already given plenty of fighters chances to make their names off him.
“At the end of the day, he has no real standout legacy,” Jones said. “The only notable guy he beat was Andrei Arlovski, who was very old at the time. There’s nothing about him that excites me. He reminds me of other up-and-comers I’ve fought that do nothing for my legacy.”
Jones has hinted at possibly retiring after his bout with Miocic. Miocic returns to the octagon after being brutally knocked out by Francis Ngannou nearly four years ago.
There’s one thing Aspinall could do to grab Jones’ attention: long-term planning. For now, “Bones” is focused on making as much money as possible with fights that draw huge audiences — like a potential showdown with current light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira.
“Maybe if Aspinall gets close to my record, I’d be tempted to come back,” Jones explained. “But I doubt that’ll happen. Pereira though? He interests me. He’s had epic battles with Adesanya… beaten Jamahal Hill, he’s a champion killer like me. That excites me.”
“I’m looking for fights that will financially elevate me,” Jones continued. “Fights people will remember 10 years from now as ‘Jon Jones took on the who’s who.’ I’m done with guys trying to build their names off me. The Ngannous, the Pereiras — proven fighters — that’s what can enhance my legacy now.”