Wanna hear a mind-boggling fact? When the clock strikes midnight on 29th April 2025, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall will officially break the record for being the longest-reigning kingpin of his kind. He will surpass Renan Barao’s 534-day reign as the interim 135lbs champ in Dominick Cruz’s absence who battled his way amidst a litany of injury woes. Not exactly the case this time around huh? Well, the current situation with Jon Jones is rather troubling for how things have been handled from the get-go! From not granting the Englishman his unification shot at UFC 309 last year to making him sit on the sidelines in his fighting prime, the weight of the strap around his waist feels more like a restriction to ever realize his undisputed dream.
Amidst this drama, Dana White has assured that the super fight will definitely happen down the line. “The fight is going to happen. It’s just a matter of when now, getting it signed and done. The fight will happen.” White said in an interview with TNT Sports on Friday evening. “It’s going to happen. It’s done but it’s not done. Not done enough to sit right here now and announce it and give you a date. But the fight is going to happen,” White added. “It’s just a matter of getting it signed now.”
However, prominent MMA journalist Ariel Helwani dropped a bombshell when he stated that Jones has reportedly demanded six months to prepare for the bout whenever it gets signed. Talk about a bummer! As the glimmer of hope is fading away for the bout to go down at UFC 317 during International Fight Week, one of the champ’s former rivals believes that ‘Bones’ should not be reproached for the delay.
On this YouTube channel, Chael Sonnen explained his argument by saying and said: “We got Aspinall and we got Jones, we don’t have a fight. And, we are as good as the information we are being given. I just have to remind you, slowly, calmly, and seemingly often, that this idea that Jon Jones will not fight Tom Aspinall or Jon Jones is the one holding up the fight with Tom Aspinall, that is not the information we’ve actually given. That information we’ve accepted based on other information.”
He further highlighted, “There’s nobody here to forward referred to as UFC brass that has ever supported the notion that they have called Jon Jones with the fight against Aspinall, had their ducks in a row, had the date, knew what their numbers would be, understanding the class is 265, the rules are unified, never called him knowing when the press tour is gonna begin or what city it would take place in. These details were never placed in a call to Jon Jones, where Jon Jones then said, no! That didn’t happen! Moreover, at that point, that didn’t happen. We’ve never been told that it has happened. We know they want that fight, we know Aspinall wants that fight and we know we the community yet to have the fight. So, we’re happy to accept that Jon is saying no.”
Madison Square Garden NEW YORK CITY, NY -NOVEMBER 16:Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic meet in the octagon for a 3-round bout for UFC309 – Jones vs Miocic at Madison Square Garden on November 16, 2024 in New York City, NY Photo by Louis Grasse/PxImages Louis Grasse / SPP PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xLouisxGrassex/xSPPx spp-en-LoGr-lrg2411164283824_UFCVegas309
‘The American Gangster’ raises a valid point. While the details of this fight remain unclear, one thing is certain! Jon Jones has yet to show any real interest in facing Tom Aspinall. It has been four months since ‘Bones’ dominated Stipe Miocic, and with no reports of lingering injuries, he should have been available to fight Aspinall in June or July, aligning with Dana White’s proposed timeline.
However, with the current heavyweight champion requiring six months to prepare for a unification bout, questions arise about whether this delay is intentional. While there could be strategic reasons behind it, Jones can’t entirely escape responsibility for the holdup.
Tom Aspinall’s frustration is completely understandable. He’s been waiting forever to take on the biggest challenge of his career. But he’s not alone—one of his most popular countrymen has now stepped up in support of him.
Michael Bisping weighs in on delay for Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones
Former middleweight champion Michael Bisping is never one to shy away from sharing his thoughts. While he holds great respect for Jon Jones, ‘The Count’ hasn’t hesitated to voice his frustration over the uncertainty surrounding this fight. Bisping recognizes that Aspinall is in his prime, training daily to sharpen his skills. Yet, he struggles to understand why the fight hasn’t been scheduled.
In an interview with TalkSport, Bisping expressed his frustration: “Not that Tom wants any sympathy from me, but I really feel for the guy. He’s in the prime of his life. He should be fighting regularly. He’s in the gym every day. He’s very humble. He is the interim champion of the world. He’s defended the interim championship status. The heavyweight champion of the world fought in November.”
He added, “Why they haven’t made this matchup is beyond me. You only need two months for a fight camp. I don’t understand that at all. I, for the life of me, don’t understand why this fight isn’t being made. And if they don’t announce it soon, then they’re really going to talk about stripping this guy.”
With the anticipation for this fight at an all-time high, a clash between Aspinall and Jones could deliver one of the most electrifying moments in heavyweight history. The question remains—when will it happen? What do you think? Will Jon Jones finally step up to face Tom Aspinall? Share your predictions in the comments below!
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