What’s the one UFC fight you want to see in 2025? For MMA fans, the answer is almost unanimous. It’s the anticipated clash between the heavyweight champion of the world, Jon Jones, and the interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. ‘Bones’ promised that he would decimate Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 and that’s exactly what he did when he faced the heavyweight GOAT. Immediately after the victory, the 37-year-old asserted that he would not be retiring from the sport, further intensifying the anticipation surrounding their unification clash. The UFC head honcho expressed his desire to witness a clash between Jones and Aspinall. Now, another UFC insider has stepped forward to echo the fans’ demands, labeling it as the most important matchup of the upcoming year.

On the ‘Ariel Helwani Show’, the host Ariel Helwani emphasized that the MMA community demands a single fight for the coming year, and it’s the title unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. ” So, let’s kick things off with fights we must see in the year 2025. And here’s a spoiler for all of you guys: let me break the fourth wall. None of us know each other’s answers for any of these categories, if you will, any of these topics—except for one topic. And it’s this topic, and that’s why I wanted to get it out of the way.”

He further added, “But the number one pick for each and every one of us—and it’s the only category that we all are in unison on for fights we need to see come 2025—there’s only one choice at the very top of the list. And, of course, it’s the heavyweight unification bout in the UFC. It is Jonny ‘Bones’ Jones vs. the pride of Manchester, the one and only [Tom Aspinall].”

There are plenty of other options out there – Conor McGregor’s return, Khamzat Chimaev’s middleweight title bout, Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev both wanting to move to higher weight classes etc. But Jones vs. Aspinall stands out as a generational clash of epic proportions. Why?

UFC 295 saw Tom Aspinall, knock out Sergei Pavlovich in the very first round to clinch the interim heavyweight title. However, Jones refused to fight the young prospect as he was waiting to fight two-time heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic. ‘Bones’ refusal to clash against Aspinall forced the British fighter to defend his interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 which he won in the first round yet again. This forced UFC head honcho Dana White to assert that he would give Aspinall the heavyweight title fight if Jones didn’t retire from the sport.

Well, interestingly, days before Ariel Helwani’s statement, the UFC CEO Dana White was asked about his opinion on the most desirable fight that he would like to make going into 2025, to which the UFC CEO asserted that it’s the heavyweight title unification fight, “So I get asked this every year, and this year it would be Aspinall-Jones. That’s the biggest fight in heavyweight history, and at the end of the day, what my job is, is to give the fans what they want, and that’s what the fans want.” UFC insiders such as Ariel Helwani and even Dana White are oozing to making the heavyweight title unification fight but what about the fans? Is Jones vs. Aspinall the most desirable fight for them? Let us find out.

Fans give their verdict on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall heavyweight unification fight for 2025

The MMA community has been demanding the title unification fight for a while now and as Dana White announced certainty going into 2025, fans believe that the clash would happen, “100% happening at IFW.” Jon Jones is arguably one of the greatest fighters to have ever embraced the Octagon. With a career record of 28 victories and only 1 defeat (DQ), ‘Bones’ has one of the most stacked resumes in the history of the MMA. In comparison to him, Aspinall has yet to achieve many things, however, the Britisher’s ability to finish matches in the very first round is something that should be feared. Regardless, a fan believes that Jones would decimate Aspinall in an actual bout, “Here’s the best part. This fight will happen. Jon will win UD. Tom will fall apart in later rounds and that’ll be swept under the rug as just another Jones performance and other guys will get fighter of the year.”

For Jon Jones, it appears that a fight against Alex Pereira makes more sense than a clash against Tom Aspinall. While having a conversation with the media, the heavyweight champion asserted that he would vacate the title to have a super-fight cash against Alex Pereira for the BMF title. This was a startling revelation that saw heavy criticism from the fans, however, some within the MMA community believe that Pereira vs. Jones makes more sense than a clash against Aspinall, “Said it before and I’ll say it again…Pereira v Jones at 205 would be the biggest fight ever.”

Furthermore, another social media user pushed for a clash between Jones and Aspinall, “Arguably the biggest must-see fight ever in UFC.” Moreover, another fan believes that a clash between Jones and Francis Ngannou would work better, “Jones v Ngannou would make way more sense … if you were a guy like Jon Jones.” However, for the unreserved, ‘The Predator’ is not interested in the clash as he made it clear through his statements that he has moved past those calls.

Last but not least, a fan called out Tom Aspinall stating that the Britisher doesn’t deserve the fight, “Disagreed. Aspinall doesn’t deserve that fight. Does nothing for Jones’ legacy.

The fate of the heavyweight division lies in Jon Jones’s hands, but will he be able to make the right decision? State your thoughts in the comments below.