Curtis Blaydes is finished acknowledging Jon Jones as a champion.
‘Bones’ might very properly go down because the longest-reigning titleholder in UFC heavyweight historical past, however his reign will probably be remembered for one factor, and one factor solely — ducking Tom Aspinall.
It’s been 19 months and counting since Aspinall scored a 69-second KO over Sergei Pavlovich to assert the interim heavyweight crown, and but we’re no nearer to seeing him combat Jones than we have been that very evening. And now it sounds just like the combat won’t ever come to fruition after Jones not too long ago prompt that he’s “achieved” combating till he occurs to get the itch to do.
Till then, a complete division is in limbo, and Aspinall’s younger profession is slowly going to waste with out ever being a chance just like the one ‘Bones’ obtained on March 19, 2011.
Forward of his return to the Octagon at UFC Baku this weekend, Curtis Blaydes — the primary and solely fighter to problem Aspinall for her interim belt so far — not too long ago vented his frustration over the scenario, declaring that he not cares about Jon Jones, and neither ought to the remainder of the division.
“I view Jon Jones as retired, until he proves in any other case,” Blaydes mentioned throughout Wednesday’s media day in Azerbaijan. “He’s out of sight, out of thoughts for me. I don’t care what he does. As for the remainder of the division, I’m trying to combat somebody within the prime 5 after this. I must beat a ranked opponent if I need a title shot, which is the objective. There are a whole lot of choices—Derrick Lewis, Sergey Spivak, even a rematch. I’d be proud of anybody ranked above me. I’m simple to please.”
Jon Jones might vacate the heavyweight title, however not earlier than securing one other report for his resume
A petition to strip Jones of his heavyweight crown at the moment stands at over 195,000 signatures. And whereas each ‘Bones’ and UFC CEO Dana White have been fast to chuckle off the try from followers to pressure their hand, it actually appears to be like just like the belt will probably be coming off ‘Bones.’ The one query is, when?
Jones will probably be at day 831 of his heavyweight reign by the top of this week (June 22, 2025) and solely 66 days away from breaking Cain Velasquez’s report of 896 days as champion. With that in thoughts, don’t count on an official announcement till someday after late August.
That method ‘Bones’ can experience off into the sundown with a report that, deep down, he’ll know he didn’t really earn.
