The Wait Continues: When Will We See Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones?
Since Tom Aspinall was crowned interim UFC heavyweight champion, fans have yearned for a unification bout against the undisputed champion, Jon Jones. Despite promises and speculation, the fight has yet to materialize, generating uncertainty in the world of mixed martial arts. On November 11, 2023, Aspinall won the interim belt by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. This victory gave him the right to challenge Jones, but the champion has not shown a clear interest in making the fight happen. Jones, who was recovering from an injury, initially justified his lack of willingness. Aspinall, after Jones’ injury, took the vacant spot and defeated Pavlovich with little notice. Subsequently, he defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes in July 2024. When Jones returned and defeated Stipe Miocic in November, the unification fight seemed the logical next step. However, almost a year after Aspinall’s last fight, the fight is still not scheduled. Dana White, UFC president, has assured that the fight will happen, even publicly stating that Jones accepted the offer. However, Jones’ own statements on social media suggest a different story.
On November 7, 2024, prior to the rescheduled fight against Miocic, Jones downplayed the possibility of facing Aspinall, suggesting that he was not a rival of his level. Instead, he hinted at the possibility of retiring or a fight against Alex Pereira. White, for his part, ruled out Jones choosing Pereira as his rival and stated that, if he continued fighting, Aspinall would be the next opponent. On November 16, 2024, Jones returned to the octagon and defeated Miocic. During the event, Jones conditioned the fight against Aspinall to a very high economic compensation. In a YouTube interview, Aspinall mentioned having started conversations with the UFC, but did not offer details. He also expressed his opinion on the greatness of Georges St-Pierre. On November 24, 2024, Jones revealed that his team was also in negotiations, without confirming whether Aspinall would be his rival. He mentioned that his return in 2025 was “more than likely”. On December 3, 2024, Aspinall expressed his desire to stay active and become the undisputed champion, even if that meant not facing Jones. On December 14, 2024, White guaranteed the fight between Jones and Aspinall. On February 5, 2025, Jones promised an announcement to his followers on X. On February 6, 2025, Jones surprised everyone by announcing an advertisement about the American healthcare system. In May 2025, due to the lack of action, the fans initiated an online petition for Jones to be stripped of his title. While training in Thailand, Jones interacted with fans who accused him of avoiding Aspinall. On May 26, 2025, Aspinall also announced “heavyweight news” on Instagram, but clarified that official announcements are usually made by the UFC. On May 28, 2025, Aspinall’s announcement turned out to be a collaboration with the Champion sports brand, disappointing fans. On June 2, 2025, Aspinall stated that Jones was “retired” and ready to face any opponent. On June 6, Jones continued responding to posts on X, stating that he was not training and would consider vacating the belt. On June 7, 2025, White reiterated that Jones had accepted the fight with Aspinall. On June 13, 2025, after returning from Thailand, Jones was asked about White’s statement, responding with another question.I am the best finisher in the UFC, if I start dominating you, you’re finished. Who wants to see Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones?
Tom Aspinall
