Why does Jon Jones refuse to fight Tom Aspinall? UFC heavyweight champion reveals the truth

Jon Jones, the arguable GOAT of MMA, is presently nursing to full health after a pectoral injury that ruled his UFC 295 PPV headliner against Stipe Miocic. The original co-main event of the PPV between Jiri Prochazka and Tom Aspinall was elevated to the main event due to the ill-timed injury.

Moreover, the UFC put on a new co-main event for UFC 295 between Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich for the interim UFC heavyweight championship. Aspinall knocked out Pavlovich in the first round to claim the interim title and has been angling for the undisputed title ever since.

Why does Jon Jones refuse to fight Tom Aspinall?

The MMA community, particularly the UFC community is buzzing with excitement over the social media feud between top-ranked heavyweights Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. The interim heavyweight champion Aspinall called out Jones and the undisputed champion replied in kind with a lengthy tweet on X, formerly Twitter.

Jones publicly stated his disinterest in fighting Aspinall on his return from injury. “My stipe fight was booked well before yours came along, you weren’t even the back up fighter”, tweeted Jones who clarified that a fight with Miocic is the right fight for his return.
The UfC, Stipe and I have unfinished business, it’s really just that simple.” Jones further stated what he, the UFC, and Miocic plan to do next.

Aspinall has been a vocal critic of the UFC’s plan to make the fight between Jones and Miocic on Jones; return from injury. He has publicly called out both Miocic and Jones and even cited the fact that he has no one logical to defend his interim heavyweight title. Moreover, he has even threatened the UFC to go the boxing route if a fight with Jones does not materialize.

Nonetheless, Dana White is adamant about making the fight between Jones and Miocic, who are the GOATS in their respective divisions, with Jon Jones even having the claim of being the best fighter ever in MMA. It needs to be noted that the UFC expects double retirement after the Jones vs. Miocic fight and it might be one of the reasons for their being adamant about making the fight.

Tom Aspinall provides verdict to Jon Jones bout

Tom Aspinall provided a straightforward response to the tweet and remarked that he has it in him to defeat Jones. Aspinall had earlier criticized the resume of Jones, which has often been termed one of the best resumes in the UFC.

“I just think I can beat you in a fight mate, but if you don’t want to, I won’t keep chasing you”, tweeted Aspinall who urged Jones to fight him but remarked that he would not be chasing the undisputed champion for a fight.

Jones provided an apt reply to the tweet of Aspinall. “Brilliant response mate”, Jones commented on the tweet, acknowledging the honesty of the interim champion. Now, it remains to be seen whether Aspinall fights Jones at all, as fans found Jones’ reply to be ducking the fight.

In the absence of Jones, there is potential for Aspinall to defend his title against former interim champion Ciryl Gane. Gane called out Aspinall when the Brit won the interim title, but Aspinall was hesitant, as Gane refused Aspinall’s callout at UFC Paris 2023 when the Brit was not the champion.

Do you think Jon Jones will ever fight Tom Aspinall in the UFC? Leave your prediction below!