Dana White Addresses Fans’ Skepticism About Jones vs. Aspinall
UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones has been on a collision course with Interim Champion Tom Aspinall for over a year. When Jones was sidelined by injury in 2023 and Aspinall won the interim belt, it stood to reason the two would inevitably meet for a unification bout. However, the fight has been mired in a slog of delays and deflections that have left many fans exasperated and in doubt that it will ever happen.
UFC President Dana White attempted to reassure fans in a recent livestream, but the process has been a bit exhausting with much of the fan base losing hope.
First, Jones faced a lengthy rehab period to recover from a torn pectoral muscle. Then, he and Dana White insisted that a previously planned fight with former champ Stipe Miocic must be brought to bear before any others.
Most concerning, Jon Jones has expressed a blunt lack of interest in the fight; at least publicly. This is at odds with continued insistence from White that behind closed doors, negotiations are ongoing. Jones has given a sliver of hope with the caveat that he wants “f*** you money” to take the fight. This at least implies that he is willing if given an offer he can’t refuse.
That offer has not yet been forthcoming as far as we know. However, Dana White remains confident that all parties will come to terms and book perhaps the biggest fight in UFC Heavyweight history.
White’s Calm Assurance Regarding the Impending Superfight
During a recent Instagram Live video, Dana White took a moment for a sidebar from his string of huge announcements to address the ongoing questions about Jones vs. Aspinall. Responding to a fan who said “We’re not getting Jon vs. Tom ever,” White had a hopeful message.
“Yes you will,” the boss flatly stated. “It’s coming. Relax.”
He has maintained throughout the process that the fight is all but guaranteed to take place. It seems nothing has occurred outside the public eye to make him reconsider.
Despite Dana’s restated position, we still don’t have any indications of when the fight may take place. It’s unclear whether this means a deal has yet to be finalized, or whether UFC is perhaps just playing their cards close to the vest until they’re ready to make an announcement. If White’s reassurances manifest into a booking, the fight will be a treat for fans worldwide. It will also have huge implications for the legacies of both men.
The Fight the Fans Deserve
Jon Jones has insisted that he only stands to lose from taking the fight. However, many fans currently view his Heavyweight run as something of a hollow epilogue to his storied career. He won the title from Ciryl Gane, who is a dangerous fighter but has serious vulnerabilities in his ground game. Jones has long been one of the strongest wrestlers in the sport, and he quickly dismantled Gane by first-round submission. His lone defense thus far came against Stipe Miocic, one of the greatest champions in UFC Heavyweight history. Nevertheless, fans largely dismissed this performance as well in light of Miocic’s age and his 3+ years of inactivity. If Jon Jones can defeat Tom Aspinall, he will legitimize himself as the best current heavyweight in the world. He is quite possibly the GOAT regardless, but it would be an emphatic exclamation point on his unmatched legacy.
For Aspinall, it would present a career-defining opportunity to do something no man has done before. Jon Jones’ lone loss came via disqualification, and the technique that led to his DQ is now legal in the sport. Thus Aspinall, if given the chance and emerging victorious, would be the only fighter to ever truly defeat Jones. Notching wins over big names is a huge boon to a fighter’s career, and Jones is the biggest name in the sport. His opponents have hunted for his head for 17 years, with none rising to the occasion and taking victory. It is a chance for Tom Aspinall to achieve something truly legendary.
Hopefully Dana White is correct to have confidence in the fight coming to fruition. International Fight Week in June would make sense as a target date for the rampantly hyped superfight. If that is the plan, we may have confirmation in the coming weeks.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
