Jon Jones’s days of consistently ignoring calls for the unification of his title against interim champion Tom Aspinall are over, and the uncertainty surrounding the matchup is finally coming to an end. This isn’t just speculation—it’s a definitive statement from UFC president Dana White. At times, Jones has received consistent backing from the UFC head honcho, which has sparked ridicule in mainstream media, with many questioning White’s favoritism, especially regarding the unification fight with Aspinall.
Typically, a champion is expected to make the belt “undisputed” first, but Jon Jones seemed more interested in facing UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira for the BMF title belt. Today, on The Jim Rome Show, Dana White ended the confusion regarding Jones and his next fight between Pereira and Aspinall. White made it clear, saying, “If Jon Jones wants to fight again after Saturday night, he will fight Tom Aspinall.”
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Jon Jones will make his long-awaited octagon comeback this weekend after a year-long injury hiatus, facing former two-time champion Stipe Miocic in a highly anticipated showdown at Madison Square Garden. Miocic, too, is returning after a three-year absence, having last fought in a knockout loss to then-champion Francis Ngannou.
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Just yesterday, Jones shared a significant update about a potential fight with Alex Pereira, stating that he is willing to vacate his title for the matchup. Now, all eyes are on Jones as fans eagerly wait to see how he will respond to his boss’s recent comments.
Jon Jones shifts focus with the aim of ‘entertaining’ fights!
Jon Jones, throughout his legendary career, has dominated both the light heavyweight and heavyweight divisions, achieving unparalleled success and solidifying his legacy as one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. Now, at 37 years old, Jones seems to have no hunger for titles and has no desire to remain the titleholder or defend his belts after his upcoming fight with Stipe Miocic this weekend. His primary focus moving forward is more titled towards the entertainment side and having fun in the sport.
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Recently, Jones opened up about these aspirations, telling the media, “I want to fight for fun. I’ve had a big chip on my shoulder my whole career. I’ve had to defend, defend, and defend. Just fighting guys that I stylistically want to fight against. Just random fights. Jamahal Hill, me and him meet at 220 [pounds] and see what happens… I can fight light heavyweights or heavyweights. Derrick Lewis – biggest knockout puncher in history. I’m just throwing out random names… Let’s see if Dana allows me to do it or not.”
What’s your take on Dana White’s comments? Do you think he would make a decision that might upset his favored fighter, Jon Jones? If so, which matchup do you believe would be more exciting? Would you rather see Jon Jones take on Alex Pereira or Tom Aspinall? Share your thoughts below!