The UFC and CEO Dana White strive to deliver thrilling matchups, often curating to what the fights fans want to see. But there’s one matchup that the MMA sphere never got to witness inside the Octagon, Jon Jones vs. Francis Ngannou. ‘The Predator’ had exited the promotion in 2023 and was stripped of the heavyweight crown after contract disputes with the UFC couldn’t be resolved. It also marked the first time a reigning UFC champion left the organization since B.J. Penn did the same in 2004.

With the title vacant, Jon Jones relinquished his light-heavyweight title and faced Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 and won the belt once held by ‘The Predator’. Now, in a recent press conference, UFC boss Dana White pulled back the curtain on why the UFC was unable to set up Jones vs Ngannou and revealed an interesting look at the dynamics behind matchmaking.

Dana White claims Jon Jones is not responsible for the failed Francis Ngannou matchup  

In a video shared on X by MMA Fighting, the UFC boss was asked in a press conference about Jones hinting at retirement on social media and claiming that he’ll only come back to fight Tom Aspinall if the UFC offers him a better deal.

Speaking in his trademark manner, Dana White referred to the elusive Jones vs. Ngannou matchup to point out that, “We were talking about Francis earlier right, I have zero animosity towards Francis. Francis was outta my world a long time ago. That guy over there, and Mick are another story. It’s a long story, that dude did everything he could in his power to make Jon Jones vs. Francis. The fight did not happen and let me tell you what, it wasn’t because of Jon Jones”

According to White, Jones was not just willing, but “absolutely positive” that he wanted the fight. He was prepared to do to Ngannou what he later did to Ciryl Gane—dominate. Yet, despite Jones’ enthusiasm, the fight remained nothing more than a tantalizing ‘what if’.  The UFC boss further stated, “What fights don’t we make? Other than the Francis thing, what fights don’t we make? And you can’t make people fight, and we couldn’t make Francis fight.”

White even hinted at what might be next for Jones if he defeats Stipe Miocic in their upcoming bout. The name on everyone’s lips? Tom Aspinall. But while the UFC head honcho assured that Jones vs. Aspinall is on the table if Jones emerges victorious against Miocic, the interim heavyweight champion isn’t too sure about it!

Tom Aspinall fires a salvo at Jones for being “quiet about me” 

Tom Aspinall, the UFC’s interim heavyweight champion is determined to unify the belts by taking on Jon Jones. But despite successfully defending his interim belt against a dangerous Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, Aspinall has been left wondering if he’ll ever get a shot at ‘Bones’. The undisputed champion is reported to be set to square off against Stipe Miocic in November in New York. It may also be Jones’s last fight in the UFC as he’s been hinting at the decision on social media, which hasn’t sat well with Aspinall.

As such, speaking candidly on the “Believe You Me” podcast with Michael Bisping, Aspinall voiced his frustrations by stating, “I challenge anybody watching this interview to go and find the statement, quote, a video where Jon Jones is saying that he’ll fight me after he’s fought Stipe. It doesn’t exist.”  Aspinall further went on to state, “He’ll continue to go completely quiet about me until he retires. Because there’s no way on Earth that he’s going to fight me.”

To wrap things up, it remains to be seen if the Jones vs. Aspinall fight comes to fruition or if it becomes another chapter in the UFC’s history of ‘what-if’ matchups. Dana White believes that ‘Bones’ will take on Aspinall once he gets past Stipe Miocic, but what are your thoughts on Jon Jones’s future in the heavyweight division and the UFC? Let us know in the comments below!