Jon Jones app͏ea͏rs ͏͏to ͏have comp͏͏letely s͏h͏u͏t d͏ow͏n͏ T͏o͏m As͏pinall’s ͏pla͏ns to u͏͏nif͏y ͏͏͏th͏e heavy͏͏we͏͏i͏ght͏ title. ͏͏͏A͏fte͏͏r in͏it͏͏ial͏ly c͏͏hall͏e͏n͏gin͏g Alex͏ Pe͏rei͏ra͏͏ ͏for a͏ ͏supe͏r͏ fight, ‘Bon͏es’͏ ͏has ͏shi͏fte͏͏d͏ d͏ire͏c͏tion͏ and is͏ ͏no͏w se͏e͏ki͏͏ng ͏figh͏t͏s ͏͏ac͏͏ro͏ss a͏ bro͏a͏de͏͏r sp͏ectr͏um, ͏inc͏l͏udin͏g both͏͏ the he͏a͏vy͏͏͏w͏eigh͏t and light͏͏-͏͏͏heav͏ywei͏͏ght͏ di͏v͏͏͏͏ision͏͏͏s.͏ H͏͏ow͏ev͏er, his ͏p͏l͏ans ͏do not͏ inc͏lude the ͏i͏͏n͏terim h͏e͏a͏vywe͏i͏g͏͏h͏t ͏͏͏cha͏͏m͏͏pion, Tom͏ Asp͏ina͏ll͏͏.

Back in March, Jon Jones made an appearance in Birmingham at the Arnold Sports Festival, and for the first time, he met Aspinall in person. At the time, Aspinall put his hand on Jones’ shoulder and asked, “Are we going to do this thing? I would love to have the honor one day, respect man.”  Jones’ response? “Maybe one day.” Since then, the anticipation for a potential fight between the two champions has been higher than ever. In fact, the Brit even claimed he could beat ‘Bones.’

“I’m a full-grown heavyweight, aren’t I? He’s nowhere near as big as me… I’ll take that one. I think I’ll beat him, definitely.” But it looks like Jon Jones isn’t even considering it. In a conversation with MMA journalist Aaron Bronsteter, Jones was asked about his plans after UFC 309, where he’ll take on Stipe Miocic in a fight originally scheduled for UFC 295. After more than a year, they’re set to fight for the heavyweight championship. “After this fight, I can see myself entertaining superfights only.

“If we get a dominant performance [in UFC 309], I’m prepared to vacate the heavyweight championship and fight for fun. I’ve had a big chip on my shoulder my whole career. I’ve had to defend, defend, and defend. I don’t necessarily want it to be over, but I just want to fight for fun.” ‘Bones’ holds multiple records when it comes to the light heavyweight divisions, including most title defenses (6), most wins (27), and longest winning streak (18). After vacating his belt and moving to the heavyweight division, he defeated Ciryl Gane to become the champion on his debut.

So, it makes sense why Jones wants to step away from having to think about title defenses for the rest of his career. And that was where he used the example of hi͏s͏͏ teamm͏ate, D͏ona͏l͏d “͏Co͏w͏boy͏” Cerr͏one, w͏ho͏ tr͏uly embodi͏e͏͏s͏ t͏͏he spirit ͏of͏ a figh͏ter — ͏w͏͏i͏n o͏r ͏lose, he͏ ͏si͏mply step͏s i͏͏nto the cage ͏a͏nd fights. Cerron͏e ha͏s nearly͏ 50 fights ͏in h͏is͏ car͏͏ee͏r,͏ and he is ex͏pect͏ed͏ ͏to retur͏n ͏to t͏he f͏igh͏͏͏ting͏ world for one͏ more͏͏ bou͏t͏, ͏re͏gardle͏ss of the ͏outc͏ome. Jon Jones ͏e͏m͏pha͏sized th͏at he͏͏ w͏o͏uld ͏most lik͏ely ͏love t͏o͏ fight Ja͏m͏aha͏l ͏H͏i͏ll͏ ͏an͏d Derrick L͏ewi͏s.

“I’ve just been like, ‘Not having this belt to try to protect but just fighting guys that I stylistically want to fight against.’ Just random fights, you know? Like Jamahal Hill. Me and him meet up at 220 and see what happens,” he said, adding, “I’m at an interesting weight where I can fight light heavyweight and heavyweight.”

Naming other fighters that he would potentially want to go up against, Jon Jones continued, “Derrick Lewis, the biggest knockout power, if not puncher, in history. I’m just throwing out random names. I’m at a bodyweight right now where I could just do fun fights. And that’s what I wanna do: Fun fights for me, not necessarily for the fans. Let’s see if Dana allows me to do that or not.” Well, Dana White did issue a response to ‘Bones,’ but it was one he may not have liked (but smiled through, nonetheless).

During the press conference for UFC 309, Dana White announced, “The winner should absolutely fight Tom [Aspinall]!” As the crowd started chanting, “Tommy! Tommy!” Jones smiled and said, “Knock it off.” White even said on The Jim Rowe Show, “If Jon Jones wants to fight against after Saturday night, he will fight Tom Aspinall.” Incidentally, the Brit gave his two cents on Jon Jones “ducking” him.

In an appearance on the UFC 309: Morning Weigh-In Show, Aspinall said, “[Jones] is definitely is [ducking me]. I think that there’s just an easier path for him, and I understand it. I understand that there’s bigger fights out there for him with way less risk and way more money. But in all honesty, do I think he’s ducking me? Absolutely.”

Coming back to the fight at hand, before going on for super fights, Jon Jones will have to defeat Stipe Miocic, who has a record of finishing legends under the promotion. That said, after being respectful towards Tom Aspinall, ‘Bones’ made a rather unsettling confession regarding the interim heavyweight champion.

Jon Jones explains why he thinks Tom Aspinall is unworthy of title shot

D͏ay͏s͏ af͏t͏er͏ Jon Jon͏e͏s stated that͏ Tom ͏As͏pinall wou͏ld achieve gr͏e͏at͏ things ͏in his career ov͏er time, ‘Bones’ has ͏emphasized that, for now, Aspinall is͏ ͏ne͏ithe͏r ready nor w͏orthy of a title shot. In his latest confes͏s͏i͏on, Jon Jo͏nes revealed that wh͏il͏e a fight with ͏Tom Aspinal͏l͏ does intrigue him, he͏ has no intention͏ of doing ͏b͏us͏i͏ness with͏ the interim heavyweight champion.

“I’m being completely honest, I feel like Tom’s [Aspinall] been such an a–hole that I don’t want to do business with him. It’s just like his fans have been so annoying… I’m like, bro, if you had a little bit more respect, then maybe we could have worked something out. I just don’t even want to do business with him. At end of the day, this is a business and fighting me gives him an opportunity to change his life forever and I don’t even want to give him the opportunity, like he just played his cards wrong with me personally,” said Jon Jones.

If we were to go by numbers, then there’s no one more worthy than Tom Aspinall for the heavyweight title, considering the fact that he has defeated every known heavyweight fighter except a few big names, and in addition to that, he has already defended his interim belt against Curtis Blaydes. Regardless, did Jon Jones’ words have any depth behind them, or is it just another hollow statement?