At this point, holding out hope for a super fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is starting to look like a waste of time.
Fans have waited since 2023 to see the undisputed heavyweight king defend his title against the interim champ, but Jones has danced around that matchup in favor of a legacy bout with Stipe Miocic. Meanwhile, Aspinall is left defending an interim belt against Curtis Blaydes, waiting on a champion who doesn’t seem interested in returning.
After all the postponement and teasing, Jon Jones made it clear this week that he’s not in a rush to step back inside the Octagon. Speaking on the Full Send Podcast, the reigning UFC heavyweight champion opened up about his mindset, making it known he’s focused elsewhere right now.
“I don’t want to say that I’m retired, because fighting’s in my blood,” Jones said. “Right now, I could really care less about fighting. I’ve been doing it my whole life at a very high level. When the itch comes back — and if it comes back — then I’ll do it with my whole heart. I’ll do it to the best of my abilities.”
Jones isn’t chasing callouts or headlines. Instead, he’s embracing a different chapter—one where purpose means more than punches.
“Right now, I look around and I realize what’s truth, what’s real. I see the way people look at me, the way I make people feel, and it’s an extraordinary thing. It’s a true blessing. Now my job is to give that to my fans — be reachable, touchable, let them know what I have inside. That’s who I am right now. I’ve punched and kicked enough people.”
Jon Jones remains one of the most dominant fighters in the sport’s history. His legacy as a two-division UFC champion and the greatest light heavyweight of all time is already cemented. Still, it’s hard to ignore the disappointment fans feel about him not facing Tom Aspinall, especially now that the Englishman has declared himself the true heavyweight champion.
Despite walking away for now, Jones didn’t shy away from addressing Aspinall directly, offering praise but also issuing a cold, calculated warning.
“I think he’s awesome,” Jones said about Aspinall. “I think he should go on and have a wonderful career. No, I don’t think he needs me. I think when you want something bad enough and if you get it, it can be the worst thing that ever happened to you.”
Jon Jones knows the game. He’s heard every callout, watched every interview, and seen the pressure from Dana White and the fans build with every passing month. Aspinall’s declaration that Jones is already retired hasn’t gone unnoticed, but the champ isn’t flinching.
“I love being the ultimate troll,” Jones admitted. “I’m in a spot right now where I’m really enjoying the fruits of my labor. All the hard work that I put in. He’s not in a position to excite me. It’s just the truth. Because if I whoop his ass, it’s going to be the next guy. There’s going to be a whole new fan base of somebody who everybody believes in. I’ve done this my whole adult life. I remember ‘Rampage’ Jackson fans years ago, Rashad Evans fans, and Lyoto Machida fans — I’ve literally replayed this story so many times in my life.”
He’s also fully aware of the backlash. Fans have started signing petitions to have the UFC strip his title. Others are calling for his retirement but Jon Jones isn’t swayed. He’s playing the long game.
“I’m a company guy and there’s a lot of things that’s happening behind the scenes where my job is just to sit and be still and take the punishment,” Jones said. “My job for the UFC is to do what’s right for the company. I could easily just say I’m not fighting. My job is to chill and that’s what I’m doing.”
Despite all the uncertainty, Jon Jones hasn’t closed the door completely. He still sees a return somewhere down the line.
“I think I will fight again in the future,” he said. “Where the future of combat sports is going, it’s going to be amazing when I pop back up. But right now I’m just focused on so many other things — like family, like building my house, like building this brand.”
Until then, Jon Jones stays on his throne, removed from the chaos, still the champ, and still calling the shots.
