Despite UFC head honcho Dana White’s recent assurance at the UFC Kansas post-fight press conference that he’s “still confident” the long-anticipated heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall will take place this year, the interim champion remains stuck in uncertainty. Having waited over 500 days (and still waiting) to achieve undisputed status in the UFC’s heavyweight division, the Brit continues to find himself in limbo, with no clear resolution in sight.

The unification fight has been “in the works” since UFC 309 last November — the last time Jon Jones stepped into the Octagon. Yet, more than five months later, the UFC has still failed to secure ‘Bones’ commitment to the bout. The Alburquerque native remains hesitant to face Tom Aspinall, further delaying the matchup and fueling growing frustration within the Brit’s camp, especially from his father, Andy Aspinall.

Speaking out recently, Andy did not hold back, criticizing the UFC and Dana White: “It’s just a massive pain in the a** really. Tom is just staying fit, really. We’re putting different things into his game and everybody’s game that comes, but it would be really nice because he’s a fighter if he could have a fight.”

With tensions rising, MMA legend Georges St-Pierre stepped in to offer valuable advice to the interim champion. In an interview with Ariel Helwani, GSP shared wisdom drawn from his own career struggles: “If I could give Tom any advice, thanks for that. I mean, it’s a great honor for me. His heart, I think, needs to focus on the next task. I remember when I lost to Matt Serra—I made the mistake of trying to focus only on Matt Serra to get my revenge immediately. But I had a few other fights lined up before I could get that chance. If he’s only focusing on Jon Jones, and if Jones doesn’t come back right away, he’s not focusing on what he needs to. He needs to focus on what’s next—the next path—because the rest is just a distraction, you know?”

Now, the ball is in Tom Aspinall’s court to decide whether he will take Georges St-Pierre’s advice to heart. Meanwhile, Jon Jones had already made his stance clear last year, stating that all he needs is the “f*** you money” to step into the Octagon against the interim champion. As for UFC President Dana White, he has continued to offer vague updates about the situation, frequently stating that things are “in the works.” Last time, Dana commented, “Done, but it’s not done. It’s just a matter of when now.”

Adding another twist to the ongoing saga, UFC veteran and analyst Chael Sonnen recently revealed fresh details about the long-awaited clash. According to Sonnen, the fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall has already been finalized and is now just “way down to the date.” However, the Englishman’s father has already reached his breaking point.

Tom Aspinall’s father went unfiltered on Dana White and the UFC

After spending more than 500 days waiting for Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall is now nearing a full trip around the sun. It’s been almost a year since the Brit defended his interim heavyweight title with a knockout win over Curtis Blaydes — a fight where he not only retained the belt but also avenged their previous unfinished bout. That victory came last July, but as the anniversary approaches, the UFC has yet to offer Aspinall either the long-awaited clash with ‘Bones’ or a fight against any other worthy opponent.

The prolonged inactivity has become a major point of frustration within Tom Aspinall’s camp, particularly for his father, Andy Aspinall. In a candid interview, Andy didn’t hide his disappointment, saying,
“It’s stupid. I have no idea why the UFC don’t want Tom to fight anyone else other than Jon Jones. ‘Stay tuned’—that’s the message they wanted Tom to keep giving people. But we’re in April now, and we’re still waiting for Jon to either say, ‘I’ll fight’ or ‘I won’t fight.’ I really don’t understand it. Tom’s a fighter — he should be fighting. Why is Jon still sitting around, not giving an answer on whether he’s going to fight or not?”

With time running out, both the Brit’s camp and his fans are growing increasingly frustrated. Do you think the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall title unification fight will finally take place by the end of this year? Share your thoughts below

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