The UFC puts on the biggest shows for its anniversary cards. Both UFC 100 and 200 featured the biggest, most exciting names in the Dana White-led promotion, and UFC 300 in April is expected to be no different. While the main event for the bout remains unknown, fans are expecting it to be a fight that knocks off their socks.
Nevertheless, one thing is for certain, Jon Jones will not be featured on the card. The undisputed heavyweight champion is recovering from a torn pec and is out for around eight months. Plus, the 36-year-old has come out and confirmed it on Twitter.
Jon Jones confirms unavailability for UFC 300
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A fan asked Jon Jones on Twitter if he was looking for a UFC 300 return. The undisputed heavyweight champion revealed that he had actually been offered a fight at the UFC’s triple-century anniversary card. However, he claimed he was not healthy enough to be able to fight at the event.
I was actually called and offered to fight on the event. The guys said they just wanted to give me the option. We both knew I wouldn’t be ready. My relationship with UFC is better now than it’s ever been. https://t.co/iLHvJ0f6vg
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 18, 2024
Strangely, the 36-year-old also remarked, out of the blue, that his relationship with the UFC was “better now than it’s ever been”. And while this comment may be surprising when talking about UFC 300, there does seem to be a lot of merit in it.
Jon Jones was supposed to face former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in a legacy-defining fight at UFC 295 last November. However, his injury forced him to pull out and the bout was postponed. As replacement, the UFC made Tom Aspinall vs. Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title on the card.
Despite Aspinall making a statement by defeating Pavlovich, the boogeyman of the division, in under two minutes at their bout and becoming the interim champion, it is almost certain Jones will not fight Aspinall to unify the title as has been done every time there is an interim champion. And the suspected reason behind it shows exactly how much the UFC values Jones and his virtually undefeated legacy.
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Jones accused of ducking interim champion Aspinall
Jon Jones has has flat to fight Tom Aspinall next, despite almost unanimous calls from the fans for a unification bout. Jones, considered the MMA GOAT is set on fighting Miocic, considered the heavyweight GOAT, as the fight would help cement his legacy as the greatest ever. Plus, Jones would fancy his chances against a 41-year-old Miocic who has fought and lost one fight in the past four years. Aspinall, on the other hand, is a different breed of heavyweight, with a championship pedigree and a very well-rounded game, who can match Jones’ speed, athleticism, and skill.
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And with significantly less miles on his body, the 30-year-old heavyweight would, on paper, almost certainly defeat the 36-year-old Jones who has only had one fight at heavyweight against Cyril Gane, who was out of ‘Bones’s league. Not so for Aspinall, who is doing everything he can to get Jones to fight him. The smart thing for Jones to do would be to fight Miocic and retire. And that is exactly what Jon Jones seems to be doing. However, this will inevitably cast a shadow on his legacy, as he would forever be accused of being scared of Aspinall and ducking him. Which, despite Jones protestations on social media, seems to be the case.
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