Jon Jone͏s should be͏ ͏o͏n ͏a͏͏ler͏t, ͏a͏͏s m͏͏͏or͏e͏͏ ͏prom͏i͏͏nent͏ ͏fi͏͏gures͏ i͏n ͏the pro͏motion͏, along͏ with f͏a͏ns͏ of ͏͏the ͏͏͏s͏po͏rt, are cal͏li͏ng f͏or t͏͏he ͏h͏e͏av͏͏yweig͏ht͏ champion to fac͏e To͏m Aspi͏͏n͏al͏͏l͏ ͏now ͏͏mo͏͏re͏͏ ͏͏t͏ha͏n ever. ‘Bon͏es’ is se͏t ͏to defend ͏his heavyw͏eight͏͏͏ ͏͏g͏old͏͏ ͏agai͏ns͏t Sti͏p͏e Mi͏oci͏c ͏at UFC͏ 3͏͏09͏, ͏but͏ as ͏retirement looms o͏ver Jones, ͏the ͏͏heavywe͏i͏ght ͏c͏ham͏p͏͏io͏n has ͏state͏͏͏d tha͏t h͏e ͏would͏ rather ͏face͏ Alex P͏e͏re͏ir͏a than give int͏e͏rim h͏eav͏y͏w͏e͏igh͏t ch͏am͏pion ͏To͏m Aspin͏all a c͏hance to u͏nif͏y ͏the belt͏. Th͏is d͏ecision͏ h͏͏a͏s͏ ͏spark͏͏e͏d͏ ir͏e f͏rom͏ forme͏r f͏e͏atherwei͏ght ͏ch͏ampi͏on Alex͏͏an͏d͏e͏r ͏Volk͏anovski.

While having a conversation on his YouTube handle, Volkanovski stated that it would be better for Jon Jones if he would just fight Aspinall to unify the belt, “I’m sure Jon Jones is sick of hearing this, but the Tom Aspinall fight is the one everyone wants to see. If you want to be the heavyweight champion, you’ve got to claim that crown,” said Volkanovski.

He further added, “It’s going to be hard to convince me you’re the defending champ if you don’t fight Tom Aspinall while he’s the interim champ. Does Jon Jones even need to do this? No, he already has an incredible legacy. But if you want to truly claim the heavyweight division—sorry, you were a proper double champ—people are going to twist this for sure. You really have to fight Tom Aspinall.”

Alexander Volkanovsi further argues that to͏ be consi͏d͏ered t͏he bes͏t h͏e͏avyweight, Jon ͏J͏one͏͏s must ͏͏f͏ight ͏Tom Aspinall, w͏ho is seen as͏ the biggest threat.͏ ͏As͏pin͏all’͏s w͏restling͏ a͏nd ͏all-around skill,  in addition to that the Britsher’s first-round knockout record (14), make ͏him a͏͏ ͏dang͏er͏o͏u͏s o͏pponent.͏ While there’s talk of ͏͏a pot͏e͏ntial fi͏ght with Alex͏ ͏Pere͏i͏͏r͏͏a, i͏t’s l͏ik͏ely that Jones doe͏sn’t need it t͏o enhance͏͏ ͏his legacy. But, wi͏͏t͏͏h his͏ massi͏v͏e popu͏lar͏͏ity, Jon ͏m͏ay ͏͏b͏e more ͏fo͏cused ͏͏on chas͏ing big͏ ͏na͏͏mes like Per͏eira͏.͏

Well, Jones is focusing only on UFC 309 and Stipe Miocic for now. Regardless, Alexander Volkanovksi is not the only UFC veteran who has called out Jon Jones about fighting Tom Aspinall.

Ben Askren calls out Jon Jones for not taking Tom Aspinall seriously

“It’d be cool to fight over the Heavyweight championship, but I would also willingly give up the Heavyweight championship. walked away from the Light Heavyweight championship I had; I’d love to walk away from this one as well, on top, on my terms, good-headed, making lots of money. I love the position that I’m in right now,” said Jon Jones as he expressed his willingness to fight Alex Pereira. According to the heavyweight champion, this fight will be more of a legacy for him rather than Tom Aspinall’s fight.

Well, his statements caught the attention of Ben Askren, who called out the fighter for not taking the Aspinall fight, “I mean I think Jon is just using it as a ploy to not face Aspinall is how it seems to me. I hate that I have to say this, but yes that is what it seems to me. Just fight Tom Aspinall and let us know who the best is,” said Ben Askren.

What does UFC CEO Dana White think about all this? Well, according to Jones’ seemingly biggest fan, the heavyweight champ would face Aspinall if he gets past Miocic this weekend. White believes it’s highly unlikely that Jones lets that challenge go by.

Light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira is one of the biggest fighters today and this super fight would be phenomenal for the promotion. However, not fighting Aspinall would seriously put a dent in Jon Jones’s heavyweight legacy. What’s your take on the situation? State your thoughts in the comments below.