The UFC community is becoming increasingly restless. With each passing month, the question grows louder: Where is Jon Jones? The heavyweight champion, once regarded as the most powerful force in MMA, has since faded into obscurity within his division. Fans aren’t just curious; they’re enraged. Fighters, commentators, and legends alike are starting to speak up. And the urge for UFC CEO Dana White to take decisive action is no longer a whisper. It’s a demand.
The pressure isn’t just coming from the fans. It is coming from within the UFC family itself. Jon Jones’ last fight was in November of last year, when he defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miočić. That was intended to mark the beginning of a new age. Instead, there’s been radio silence. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champion, remains in limbo. He has not fought since July 2024, and unlike Jones, he is prepared. But there’s no contract or announcement—only more waiting.
In the midst of this controversy, former champion Michael Bisping has weighed in—and he is not mincing words. ‘The Count’ delivered a scathing message on his YouTube channel, addressing not only Jones but also head honcho, Dana White. Talking about ‘Bones,’ he said, “Fights once, has a year off, gets injured, has another year, and then has another year off — and potentially might not even fight.”
So, seeing how the champion is doing anything but fight, Bisping stated, “The question was at the start of this video: Should Jon Jones be stripped? I would say there needs to be a deadline put on this.” Bisping’s suggestion? International Fight Week. “If they don’t make an announcement by International Fight Week — put up or shut up. Defend, vacate, be stripped, or not be stripped. If he doesn’t accept the fight, you’ve got to strip him.”
Nobody knows the impact of this limbo more than Tom Aspinall. During an appearance on Demetrious Johnson’s podcast, the British heavyweight discussed the toll this wait has put on him. “Now, I’ve been almost a year inactive with no prospects of anything apart from wait,” Aspinall said. To him, the mental toll is much harsher compared to the period following his 2022 knee injury.
March 4, 2023, Las Vegas, NV, LAS VEGAS, NV, USA: LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 4: Jon Jones celebrates his victory over Ciryl Gane in their Heavyweight fight during the UFC 285 event at T-Mobile Arena on March 4, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV, USA. Las Vegas, NV USA – ZUMAp175 20230304_zsa_p175_268 Copyright: xLouisxGrassex
At the very least, there was a recovery timeline back then. But this? This feels endless. ‘The Briton’ is doing everything he can to stay sharp, but he realizes the mental game is wearing him out. And that honesty is difficult for fans to accept. For Dana White, it is an issue that requires a solution. People want to know whether Jon Jones will return to face Tom Aspinall or step aside. In fact, they even started a petition to make the UFC strip Jon Jones; however, all that received was a five-word reply from ‘Bones’ instead.
Jon Jones reacts to viral petition by Tom Aspinall fans
Just when fans thought things couldn’t be any more upsetting, they decided to take matters into their own hands. A Change.org petition has gone viral, demanding that Jon Jones be stripped of his UFC heavyweight belt. With over 42,000 signatures and counting, what began as a fan-fueled protest rapidly became a resounding message to Dana White and the UFC: do something.
The silence from the organization was deafening. But Jon Jones? He didn’t stay quiet. ‘Bones’ finally addressed the chaos, but not with the clarity or professionalism that fans had hoped for. Instead, he posted a cryptic and snarky one-liner on Instagram: “The equivalent to picograms [LAUGHS].” It was a callback to one of his most controversial moments, when minuscule traces of a banned substance almost ruined a whole event.
To the majority, it felt like a deflection. A joke. A man who knew people were demanding answers but chose to mock the calls from a distance. This isn’t the first time Jo Jones has made fun of public perception. His recent twists on his retirement, long stretches of silence, and now this dismissive jibe have simply added fuel to the flames.
Fans believe that it is not about discrediting Jones’ legacy but rather about safeguarding the title’s legitimacy. The petition, albeit symbolic, speaks volumes. It is not only about getting ‘Bones’ to fight. It is about bringing an end to a heavyweight division that has been held hostage for far too long. But what do you think? Will we get to see the fight anytime soon? Let us know in the comments.
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