The Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight saga has became the UFC’s most persistent cleaning soap opera, and Jon Jones is working extra time to ensure the blame lands wherever however at his personal toes. On social media, Jones has expertly sidestepped any trace of duty for the collapsed battle, as an alternative tossing the new potato to the UFC, the remainder of the division, and, naturally, anybody however himself.
Jon Jones Sparks Controversy – UFC Blamed as Tom Aspinall Mega-Struggle Melts Down
In the case of the stalled battle, Jones insists he’s not the issue. “It sucks to see the remainder of the division get slowed down like this, however that has nothing to do with me. I don’t pull the strings,” he posted, portray himself because the harmless bystander who simply occurs to be sitting on the belt whereas the remainder of the division waits. He’s even bragged about not coaching since his final battle, and says the UFC prefers him as champion over Aspinall.
“I spoke to the UFC a very long time in the past about what my future plans have been. I haven’t actually labored out since my final battle in New York Metropolis. Truthfully, I imagine it’s been within the UFC’s finest curiosity to maintain presenting me as the corporate’s champion—not Tom. I’ve simply been enjoying the function of the corporate man by doing nothing in any respect… and holding the place. And in truth, it’s been extremely profitable. I’ve made more cash off of Tom being the interim champ than Tom has himself. It sucks to see the remainder of the division get slowed down like this, however that has nothing to do with me. I don’t pull the strings.“
Right here’s the place issues stand: Tom Aspinall, the interim champ, has been caught in holding sample since flattening Sergei Pavlovich in late 2023. UFC heavyweight champ Jon Jones, after a 12 months out with harm, returned to beat Stipe Miocic, then promptly vanished from the unification dialog. Whereas followers and UFC execs have begged for a Jones-Aspinall conflict, Jones has been busy with every little thing besides combating – dabbling in actuality TV, accumulating presidential trinkets, and, by his personal account, raking in money just by “doing nothing in any respect… and holding the place.”
On-line, Jon Jones has made a sport of downplaying Aspinall’s existence. He’s referred to as Aspinall “no risk to me in any way” and instructed the Brit ought to give attention to being one of the best heavyweight of his personal period.
“No, truthfully, I want Tommy no ailing will. He’s no risk to me in any way, he ought to begin with simply attempting to be one of the best heavyweight of all time, that objective can be lots. My profession is on a very completely different planet if we’re being sincere. I actually don’t hate on different fighters, i’m normally simply responding to their envy.”
The UFC claims negotiations are ongoing, with Dana White promising the battle will finally occur. However with Jon Jones dropping hints about retirement and Tom Aspinall overtly doubting the champ’s return, followers are beginning to marvel if that is simply Jones’s method of creating a sluggish, profitable exit. Ultimately, Jones is enjoying the blame sport with a straight face, dodging duty for the logjam whereas taking swipes at Aspinall’s credentials.