The long-anticipated heavyweight title unification saga between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall appeared to be on the brink of completion—until doubt crept back in. For months, the interim champion has publicly voiced his frustration with ‘Bones’ for seemingly avoiding the matchup. But his tone shifted dramatically after a private meeting with UFC CBO Hunter Campbell last month. Speaking to Ariel Helwani shortly after, Aspinall struck a surprisingly upbeat note, stating that he “understood” the UFC’s position, hinting that behind-the-scenes progress had been made.

Moreover, Aspinall once again pointed in a positive direction. The Englishman took to his YouTube channel and said, “I know everyone wants fight news, but I do know what’s happening now. I have been sworn to secrecy for a little bit, so stay tuned… but there will be news coming, hopefully very soon.” Adding to the intrigue, UFC CEO Dana White fueled speculation by declaring the fight was “done, but it’s not done.” Those cryptic words sparked optimism among fans that an official announcement was imminent.

However, that excitement has since given way to renewed uncertainty. In a recent appearance, MMA insider Ariel Helwani offered some sobering commentary, suggesting the super-fight may once again be in jeopardy. He hinted that if the bout collapses, there will be a clear figure to blame—casting a shadow over what was once seen as a done deal.

“My understanding is, if for some reason, this fight [Jones-Aspinall] doesn’t come to fruition, if for whatever reason it falls apart and we never get to see Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall, the UFC is not to blame… What I’m reading and surmising and what’s being told to me is they have made every effort in very good faith to make this fight happen,” Helwani said on his YouTube show.

“Now, obviously, when fights don’t come to fruition, there’s a multitude of reasons as to why fights don’t happen. But in my opinion, if this fight doesn’t happen, it’s not because of the UFC. It’s not because of Tom Aspinall as well. I think ultimately, who will decide whether or not this fight happens or not is Jon Jones… If Jon wants the fight to happen today, and I don’t mean like the fight to actually be fought today, but like done deal today, it could be a done deal today. It’s up to him and it’s always been up to him,” he added.

Jones, of course, has asked for ‘f—k you money’ to fight Aspinall, which many take to mean at least a couple of tens of millions of dollars. According to the Canadian journo, the UFC had obliged the GOAT contender and were ready to pay him handsomely for what most see as his last-ever MMA fight.

“For a while, you could have said ‘all right, they have to meet whatever number,’ right?… Point is, I believe that the UFC has met all the demands well in a very favorable way for both guys,” Helwani claimed.

Of course, we don’t know for sure that the UFC has consented to Jones’ financial demands. But if that is indeed true, then yeah, the blame does fall completely on ‘Bones’s shoulder. After all, Tom Aspinall desperately wants the fight, as does Dana White, who claimed this fight may be “the biggest fight” they’ve ever done. But, if it doesn’t materialize, then what?

What will the UFC do if Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall falls through

If Jon Jones drags his feet on the Tom Aspinall fight, the UFC will strip him. Dana White has promised that they will “move on” if the fight contract isn’t signed in a reasonable timeframe. While the UFC CEO didn’t spell out exactly what this timeline is, it cannot be later than the end of 2025, if that.

So if Jones doesn’t agree to the fight, the UFC would strip him and make Aspinall fight someone else for the vacant undisputed title. And who could be that someone else? At the moment, there is only one man in the heavyweight division who has a claim to a title shot. #2 ranked French star, Ciryl Gane. This would be a huge, massive disappointment. Most would consider Jones-Aspinall not happening the biggest what-if clash in the history of the sport, and it would be hard to argue with that.

Not to mention, it would confirm many fans’ theory that Jones is actually scared of fighting Aspinall since the remarkably well-rounded Englishman is naturally bigger, stronger, quicker, and younger than ‘Bones’. And that may well affect his legacy and knock him off the GOAT pedestal many have put him on. What do you think about Ariel Helwani’s comments about the Jones-Aspinall clash?