The rivalry between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall seems more intense than ever. The Englishman has long awaited a chance to unify his interim title against the heavyweight champion. However, Jones, now in the twilight of his career, has shown little interest in facing him.

Instead, ‘Bones’ is focused on his upcoming legacy clash at UFC 309 against Stipe Miocic. His refusal to acknowledge Aspinall has drawn criticism from fans who want to see the champions face off. Jones briefly addressed the controversy on his X account in response with a tweet. Regardless, he quickly deleted it, leaving fans wondering what he had written. Let’s dive into the details.

Jon Jones seems to be done with ducking allegations

In a now-deleted tweet Jones wrote, “I’m going to hide in my mansion and not come outside, people are calling me a duck come oh no my world is over. What is this high school? lol.” As so it usually happens, the MMA community was quick to notice. A user by the name of @agentmerciless called ‘Bones’ out for his deleted tweet.

It is interesting since Jones rarely engages with something like this. It may very well be a curtain call on his rivalry with Aspinall with him being focused on his upcoming challenge against the UFC’s resident firefighter. Despite all his efforts, the interim champion’s dream of facing Jon Jones may never come to fruition. Jones, now 37, has suggested that his upcoming fight against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 will be his last. But is that the case?

While many believe Jones intends to retire after this fight, UFC CEO Dana White sees it differently. In a recent interview, White stated, “I truly believe that whoever wins this fight, just competitively the way these guys are wired and because they’re both massive legends in the sport, they’re not going to ride off into the sunset without settling the dispute with Tom Aspinall.”

The two legends are set to clash at UFC 309 after a long period of inactivity, both approaching the twilight of their careers. Given their records and achievements, they have little left to prove. So, did Jones make the right choice in not accepting Aspinall’s challenge? It appears the heavyweight champion has his reasons for declining the fight. Let us see what they are!

Jon Jones feels Tom Aspinall has a lot to prove in his UFC career

Tom Aspinall has long been eager to test himself against the legends of his division, but it seems he may have to wait a bit longer. The heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, appears uninterested in facing the British contender. Under normal circumstances, Jones would like to defeat Miocic and end his career on top. But if given the option, would he defend his title against the interim champion, Aspinall? Jones recently discussed this in a conversation with Kevin Iole.

During the interview, Jones confirmed that UFC 309 would likely be his final appearance. He then explained why he wasn’t interested in facing ‘The Honey Badger’. Jones stated, “I feel like Tom Aspinall—I don’t want to say nobody, but he just hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t done anything. I mean, he won his belt against Sergei Pavlovich; Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else. So it’s just like, I’m not here to gamble on someone else making a name off me. I’m here to compete against the guys where, when we look back 10 years from now, it’s like Jon Jones fought this guy, that guy, this legend, and that champion.”

Aspinall, at the peak of his career, is determined to win the undisputed title. But is Jones justified in withholding this opportunity? Or is he underestimating Aspinall’s accomplishments so far? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.