Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall just isn’t a accomplished deal in spite of everything, based on Chael Sonnen.
A day after claiming that the extremely anticipated heavyweight championship unification bout is “is agreed, all the way in which right down to the date,” Sonnen is now strolling again that declare in traditional Sonnen style. The three-time UFC title challenger defined on his YouTube channel it was his understanding Jones would battle Aspinall subsequent, however now sees one other hurdle standing in the way in which of that matchup.
“OK, I may need mentioned that,” Sonnen mentioned. “I additionally did imagine that to be true, so I do bear in mind—I may need mentioned that. It will be actual straightforward to know, I movie all the things and put it out. However one factor I do know I instructed you phrase for phrase for phrase for phrase, I instructed you Tom Aspinall’s subsequent battle is finished, however I don’t know that it will likely be in opposition to Jon Jones. I then instructed you if Jon Jones fights once more, Jon Jones’ subsequent battle will probably be in opposition to Tom Aspinall. I instructed you that.”
As a substitute of Jones, Sonnen expects Gane—a former interim champion himself—to get a shot at Aspinall’s interim belt.
“The present plan proper now, Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane for the interim championship,” Sonnen mentioned. “Now, I’ll again the strikes. I’ll again the strikes with full integrity in place as a result of our overarching theme, our structure itself throughout the sport of MMA is we fiercely adhere to the principles that we make up as we go. So, I’m on board and I like something that ends in world championship.”
The convoluted heavyweight championship scene took place on account of Francis Ngannou parting methods with UFC in 2023 with the belt nonetheless round his waist. A brand new champion was quickly topped with Jones leaping up from mild heavyweight and making quick work of Gane at UFC 285. Nonetheless, an harm pressured Jones out of a scheduled title protection in opposition to Stipe Miocic eight months later, which led to Aspinall defeating Alexander Volkov for an interim title.
Since then, each males have defended their belts, with Aspinall avenging a loss to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 and Jones beating Miocic of their rescheduled bout at UFC 309. Jones has repeatedly shot down any speak of an Aspinall battle, criticizing his opponent’s credentials regardless of Aspinall sporting an 8-1 UFC report whereas Jones has solely competed within the heavyweight division twice.
Prefer it or not, Sonnen claims if followers are going to ever see Jones battle Aspinall, the stress is on Aspinall to placed on one other robust efficiency first.
“Not solely are we going to have each [an interim and undisputed champion], we’re going to contend for a second time the interim championship,” Sonnen mentioned. “However we’re going to do it for the primary time within the presence of our undisputed champion and we might or is probably not doing that in 9 weeks at Worldwide Combat Weekend.”
“I’m right here to inform you, based on a remarkably good supply, Jon Jones goes to be afforded the power to attend 180 days, which is equal to 6 months, which is what he requested for,” Sonnen added. “Tom Aspinall goes to battle with Ciryl Gane, which was, in reality, on the desk many months in the past after which Ciryl was gifted a call in a battle that he misplaced in opposition to [Alexander] Volkov. That’s the way in which the story occurred. And now we’re going to defend an interim champion with the existence of an undisputed champion, which is in opposition to the legal guidelines of logic and the Oxford English Dictionary’s definition of champion in addition to undisputed in addition to interim, however we’re going to adhere to the one factor that we do constantly: We’re going to carefully observe the principles that we make up as we go.”
