Tom Aspinall, the interim UFC heavyweight champion, expresses optimism about his fighting path despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding division titleholder Jon Jones.
Discussions regarding a potential unification bout in the UFC`s heavyweight division have been ongoing since late 2024. However, Jon Jones recently stated publicly that he has no interest in fighting the interim champion, fueled by rumors of his impending retirement from mixed martial arts.
A subsequent proposal from Jones to fight Francis Ngannou was quickly shut down by UFC CEO Dana White. White affirmed during the UFC 316 post-fight press conference that Tom Aspinall is considered the primary challenge in the heavyweight division.
Tom Aspinall Relieved the Jon Jones Situation is Ending
In a recent training session with lightweight contender Paddy Pimblett, Aspinall was naturally questioned about the Jon Jones situation. Aspinall`s response suggested that the UFC might be abandoning plans for what was potentially the biggest fight of 2025.
“Everyone has a time limit, and he`s reached his,” Aspinall commented. “Now we are moving forward. It`s all in the past now. We`re proceeding, everything is positive, and I can get back to fighting soon.”
He continued, “It`s better now because I have a bit more clarity on what`s happening, and I will be fighting soon, which is great. For the past six months, I`ve been completely unsure about the situation.”
“Putting aside money, fame, titles, and rankings, I simply love to fight. That`s why I got into this sport. I didn`t get into it for anything else. All the other things are just welcomed additions.”
“I just want to compete, and that`s been unavailable to me for over a year now,” Aspinall added. “But we are nearing the end of this uncertainty, which is good.”
Dana White Addresses Petition to Strip Jon Jones` Title
Meanwhile, a petition demanding the UFC strip Jon Jones of his championship has gathered over 190,000 signatures. Dana White dismissed this petition as “silly” when reporters asked him about it after UFC 316.
“Yeah,” the UFC CEO replied when asked if he had seen the viral petition. “Every person on Earth was messaging me about it.”
He then questioned the significance of the number of signatures: “How many fans are there worldwide now, what`s the figure? Like 400 million? And 130,000 people want to see him stripped. It`s quite f—— silly.”
These remarks do not indicate that White plans to strip Jones of his title in the near future. Nevertheless, Aspinall appears confident that a resolution benefiting him is imminent.
Rupert Hartwell