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Although the UFC Heavyweight Division is expecting a spectacular showdown between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, the date and official confirmation of the fight have not yet been announced. UFC President Dana White recently stated that all terms were agreed upon and that the fighters only needed to sign contracts, but that hasn't happened yet.
According to sources close to the organization, the UFC is ready to meet Jones's financial demands, which are estimated to be between $20 million and $30 million. It is a number that hardly any fighter gets, but it seems that the champion can't be forced to fight the young Brit in any other way.
Aspinall, who is already considered by many to be the best heavyweight in the world, has been trying to get a title match against the "best of all time." Tensions between the two have been rising for months. The Briton has repeatedly accused JJ of avoiding him, to which the current champion has repeatedly laughed off, playing the "good guy."
However, before they became rivals, Jon had nothing but praise for the British fighter in 2023. While appearing on Mike Perry's podcast, he said that Tom has enormous potential and that he will be an insurmountable obstacle for many heavyweights. However, after the Briton became the interim champion, JJ was no longer too enthusiastic about him.
The young lion wants to beat the adult alpha male, and although he has swept the entire heavyweight division, it seems that JJ will ultimately decide whether the match will happen. Tom's only loss in the organization came due to injury in a match against Curtis Blaydes, where he started very well, but unfortunate circumstances spoiled a perfect score.
Mighty Mouse backs Aspinall
Former UFC champion Demetrious Johnson believes that Tom should not passively wait. Speaking to Submission Radio, he stressed that the Briton should stay active and accept another match instead of waiting for Jones to return.
"If I were Aspinall, I wouldn't wait six months. I would look for another fight because otherwise, he loses momentum and the opportunity to make money. This fight with Jones may never be scheduled," Johnson said.
He added that the UFC is currently playing by Jones' rules and that Aspinall should not be held hostage to the situation. "When was the last time Jones fought? If this all drags out, this could become a fight that has been talked about for years but never happened," he concluded.
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