UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has presented a peculiar new condition for a potential undisputed title showdown with interim champion Tom Aspinall. In a seemingly lighthearted conversation, Jones suggested the fight could happen if Aspinall attends an upcoming Dirty Boxing Championship event.
Jones, a two-division UFC legend, has notably avoided granting Aspinall the opportunity to unify their titles. Over the past year, he has instead hinted at retirement or explored potential superfights against opponents like Francis Ngannou or Alex Pereira.
Jones Tells Aspinall the Condition for a Fight
During interactions following the ceremonial weigh-ins for the DXB 2 event in Miami, Jon Jones deflected serious inquiries about his fighting future. He playfully insisted that he would reveal all details at the Dirty Boxing show itself.
However, when pressed specifically on whether attending a Dirty Boxing event would motivate him to fight Tom Aspinall, Jones gave a concise and notable reply: “Yes, you`ve got your quote right there.”
It is widely reported that Jones requested a record-breaking purse for the unification bout against Aspinall, a figure the UFC reportedly agreed to. Despite this, his recent actions and comments continue to cast doubt on his immediate interest in the matchup.
In recent weeks, Jones was in Thailand filming a reality show alongside figures like Nate Diaz and Hasbulla. Since returning to the United States this week, he has frequently engaged with fans on social media in a manner perceived by many as teasing or trolling regarding his next career move.
Jon Jones Appears Unaware of Dana White`s Claim About Accepted Fight
Adding another layer of confusion, UFC CEO Dana White stated during the UFC 316 post-fight press conference that Jon Jones had accepted a fight with Tom Aspinall. However, subsequent reports, notably from MMA journalist Ariel Helwani, suggested Jones later backed away from the agreement.
When asked about White`s comments by interviewers, Jones claimed he had not heard them. Upon being informed that White said he had accepted the fight, Jones responded with apparent surprise, asking, “Is that what he said?”
At the press conference, White had asserted multiple times, “Yeah, I’ve been saying it since the beginning, Jon Jones agreed to do the fight. Jon Jones was offered the deal and accepted the deal.” He reiterated, “Jon agreed to fight Tom, yes,” and claimed he had been consistently guaranteeing the fight would happen. This discrepancy between White`s statements and Jones`s reaction (or claimed lack thereof) further fuels uncertainty surrounding the highly anticipated heavyweight title picture.
