Heavyweight champion Jon Jones has been out of the game due to an injury, but the fighter is ready to get into the cage and defend his title for the first time.
Jones last saw action when he defeated then-champion Ciryl Gane in 2023. He sustained an injury during this fight but recovered, and a title defence match was set with Stipe Miocic. Unfortunately, Jones had to withdraw from this fight due to a torn pectoral muscle.
Notwithstanding his absence from the division, English fighter Tom Aspinall has held the fort as the interim champion. Aspinall won the interim title from Sergei Pavlovich and has defended it against Curtis Blaydes. His recent victories have put Aspinall on a fast track, and the fighter plans to go for the heavy title. Despite his callout and persistence, Jones and UFC are already set on the match with Stipe Miocic.
“Looks like is Tom displaying that amazing UK wrestling,” Jones quote tweeted a video of Aspinall wrestling. “My focus is on stipe. He actually wrestled division one. Best heavyweight of all time as of right now. Maybe Tom will go on and beat Stipe’s record one day. Right now, I’m focusing on goat things.
“Haha man, you guys have been really begging me lately,” he continued. “Is the heavyweight division really that boring without me? The beautiful thing about being in my position is I’m not defined by one fight. Most of you grew up watching me win.”
Jones has hinted that his fight with Moicic may be his last career fight, but the news is still unsure. On the other hand, his opponent, Miocic, is sure his fight with Jones will be his last.
“I guess there was a video that resurfaced recently of me saying that after Stipe, Francis [Ngannou] was the only fight I was interested in,” Jones tweeted. “That video was recorded well over a year ago. That was recorded before I got injured, before there was an interim champion crowned. I had already voiced that I wasn’t interested in any more randoms.
“Now, magically, I’m ducking a fight that’s never been negotiated or discussed at any table that matters. LOL, I’m sticking to my plans, and Jon Jones jumps for no one. How many belts does one need? How many times do I have to break my own record?
“There are fighters literally all over the world that think in the back of their mind I can beat Jon Jones,” he continued. “There will be no statues of you. Go out and win more and make your name greater. That is the only way you do it.
“I’m 37 years old now, I’ve kicked everyone’s ass,” Jones concluded. “My job is to finish strong and make an amazing movie.😘go join Tom Brady, Floyd Mayweather, and all the other retired bad asses.”
Despite these claims, Aspinall is not ready to let Jones retire without getting his pound of flesh. After Jones’s tweets, Aspinall released an Instagram post with the caption: “Where are you Jon Jones Is it time for retirement?”
None of the retirement news has been confirmed yet, but one certain thing is that the fight between Stipe Moicic and Jon Jones will occur at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden.
