Jon Jones had been considering retirement, but it seems those plans are on hold as he prepares to face Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Yet, this doesn’t mean he’s fully committed to unifying the heavyweight title. “I have this feeling that it could be the last one,” he told the New York Post about UFC 309. “But I’m also open to it not being the last one. I’ve just got to take it the way I’ve always taken it—one fight at a time.” UFC President Dana White echoed the same sentiment and suggested he might change his mind. White shared with TNT Sports that Jones could very well continue fighting post-Miocic. However, even if he stays, Jones isn’t eager to take on rising star Tom Aspinall, who he described as “annoying.”

UFC commentator Jon Anik agreed with Jones’ hesitation to take on Aspinall. In a conversation with Kevin Iole, Anik noted, “The guy doesn’t need to end on another high note; he’s already the greatest of all time. And I think anyone advising him would probably say it’s not worth taking one final payday—maybe $15 million—or risking it all with a fight against Aspinall. But first things first, let’s see if he can get through Stipe. I’m with you, though, on the excitement building around the heavyweight division.”

The play-by-play commentator believes Jon Jones has already cemented his legacy with an incredible 27-win record and doesn’t need to prove anything further. While a potential fight with the Englishman could bring Jones a hefty payday, he’s still hesitant about a unification bout even if the opportunity arises.

Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall is keeping a close eye on UFC 309 and has voiced frustration with Dana White’s frequent praise of Jones as the best pound-for-pound fighter. Aspinall is eager to prove himself and challenge the division’s top talent, hinting at his readiness to take on the legendary ‘Bones’ if given the chance.

Tom Aspinall makes daring claims about the Jon Jones situation

Tom Aspinall is well aware of the stakes involved if he were to face Jon Jones. Securing a victory over ‘Bones’ would establish a lasting legacy. On the Vechtersbazen podcast, the interim heavyweight champion remarked, “If you can get that name on your resume, that goes a long way. But all I ask is for Dana White to keep that same energy, calling him the GOAT and the P4P no. 1. If I fight Jon Jones and beat him, he still has to be the P4P no. 1 – no saying he’s old afterward.”

The Englishman has made a considerable mark with eight UFC victories, each by knockout or submission, and is eager to show his skills again. Despite Aspinall’s enthusiasm, Jones has expressed little interest in facing him. The 31-year-old Brit voiced his frustration and called out critics on their hypocrisy on Championship Rounds, saying, “If he’s the P4P GOAT or whatever, [he should] keep the same energy when I beat him, that’s all I ask.”

Meanwhile, Jones expressed interest in a potential bout with Alex Pereira in the future, stating in an interview with Kevin Iole that facing ‘Poatan’ would be both financially rewarding and valuable for his career. This proves to be even more frustrating for the interim champion as his division’s undisputed king is open to facing anyone but him. With tension building between the two, do you think Jones would agree to fight Aspinall for a hefty payday? Share your thoughts in the comments!