A recent assertion by a former opponent of Jon Jones suggests that the heavyweight champion won’t consider retirement until he faces off against Tom Aspinall in the cage.
Last November, Jones was scheduled to defend his title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 but had to withdraw due to a torn pectoral muscle, leading to the fight’s postponement.
During Jones’s absence, Aspinall stepped up on short notice to claim the interim heavyweight title by defeating Sergei Pavlovich in just over a minute into the first round.
Jon Jones’ Future Hinges on Tom Aspinall Showdown, Says Former Opponent
After his victory, Aspinall expressed interest in a title unification bout with Jones, who declined the proposal and hinted at possibly retiring after rescheduling his fight with Miocic.
Chael Sonnen, who faced Jones in 2013, recently commented on the situation, stating on his YouTube channel:
“I, Chael Sonnen, do not believe Jon Jones is going to retire. I do not believe Jon Jones would go anywhere until he handles one final piece of business, which will be against Tom Aspinall.”
Sonnen also suggested that if Aspinall were to face Ciryl Gane instead, it would effectively end any chance of a future matchup between Jones and Aspinall.
Despite persistent callouts from Aspinall, Jones has avoided engaging in discussions about a potential fight publicly. Aspinall highlighted Jones’s strategic avoidance during an encounter at the Arnold Sports Festival in Birmingham, England, last month.
Speaking on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Aspinall acknowledged Jones’s deliberate choice not to engage in a faceoff:
“I wanted to face off. Jon’s smart, you know? … Jon will not say anywhere — you can’t find it, it’s not out there — that he will fight me. He won’t say it anywhere publicly. He won’t say it. You can’t find a clip, a quote, nothing, anywhere, of Jones saying, ‘One day I’m going to fight Tom Aspinall, and I’m going to freaking beat the brakes off him.’ He doesn’t want to do a faceoff because that promotes a potential fight.”
The outcome remains uncertain as Jones continues to recover from surgery and Aspinall keeps an eye on potential matchups, waiting for his opportunity to challenge for the top spot in the heavyweight division.
