The Jon Jones–Tom Aspinall drama continues to dominate the MMA news. With the heavyweight division in flux, fans have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of a clear path to a unification fight. While Tom Aspinall continues to push for the bout, Jon Jones has generally remained on the sidelines, preoccupied with lucrative contract negotiations and recovering for his next possible fight. Now, the reigning champ has sent a cryptic tweet, one that speaks of constantly being called out by a fighter who, in his words, “didn’t end up being great at all.”
In a now-deleted tweet, Jones appeared to address some call-outs he received, writing, “It sucks when you talk crazy about someone for years, and you don’t end up being that great after all.” While he did not mention anyone specifically, the timing of the tweet—right in the midst of heightened Aspinall buzz—leads many to believe it was a thinly veiled shot at the interim heavyweight champion. The deletion just adds fuel to the flames, leaving fans wondering why Jones took it down so swiftly. Was it someone else he was targeting?
Longtime fans may recall UFC 172, when Phil Davis mercilessly criticized Jon Jones in the buildup to the event. Ironically, Davis lost poorly to Anthony “Rumble” Johnson on the same card, and ‘Bones’ didn’t hesitate to throw shade afterwards. He coolly dismissed the trash talk with a simple “Phil who?” and even exchanged a high-five with Johnson at the post-fight press conference. So, it is possible that, by the latest tweet, the reigning heavyweight champion is talking about Davis.
Jon Jones in a now deleted tweet:
“The guy who was known for calling out Jon Jones, and didn’t end up being great at all.” #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/HcOuTs26Nm
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) April 17, 2025
However, Tom Aspinall is no Phil Davis. Unlike Davis, the Briton has done more than talk; he has won the interim title and defeated elite opponents convincingly. For the most part, ‘Honey Badger’ has remained respectful, but he is adamant about getting the fight he believes he deserves. Even his father has publicly called for Jones to vacate the title if he does not defend, and analysts such as Chael Sonnen have mocked the idea that Jones requires six months to prepare. Still, ‘Bones’ appears to be fine with the long game. However, it surely is turning fans against him.
Fans mock Jon Jones’ bizarre move on X
Jon Jones’ mysterious post may have been intended to land a knockout, but for many fans, he ended up hitting himself instead. The fact that the tweet was deleted quickly made matters worse. Fans, who had already grown dissatisfied with Jones’ passivity, saw this as another example of him stirring the pot without any intention of entering the cage. And, rather than threatening Aspinall, many believe ‘Bones’ has simply revealed how much the Brit is on his mind.
As expected, the internet did not hold back. Countless people assumed that the remark was directed at Aspinall, mocking the idea that Jones could write off the current interim champ while simultaneously avoiding him. “Ducking Aspinall is a weird flex,” one person tweeted, while another jokingly asked, “If this is about Aspy, he’s ducking someone not great?” Another tweet stated, “Jon Jones out here ducking Tom Aspinall is his full-time job.”
Others speculated that the champion intended to post the comment from a burner account but just forgot to switch, with users mocking him: “He forgot to switch to his burner account” and “Lmao, man put the burner tweet on his mainstream.” After all, why would one tweet only to delete it within an hour? Well, that’s something only he and Conor McGregor would know, as this user drew the parallels between the two: “Jones pulling off a McGregor here.”
The criticism did not end there. Fans criticized his title reign, questioning whether someone who had not defended his belt for most of the time could truly speak of greatness. “Me seeing Jon Jones still duck Aspinall, therefore taking the heavyweight belt hostage,” a user wrote. Another commented on the strangeness of the situation: “This guy single-handedly made an entire division lame af.” Some even said that if Jones is unwilling to fight, perhaps greatness isn’t something he should be discussing at all. “How do you expect one to be great without being undisputed?” The heavyweight champion’s tweet may have disappeared, but the internet never forgets—and this time, the outcry was louder than the message itself. What do you think? Was it aimed at Tom Aspinall? Let us know in the comments.
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