Jones: ‘Intern’ Champ Aspinall ‘Just As Selfish’ To Wait For Undisputed Title Fight

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Ultimate Fighting Championship’s (UFC) Heavyweight division is broken.

Jon Jones won the promotion’s undisputed title in a vacant title tilt against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023 (watch highlights). Unfortunately for “Bones,” injury torpedoed his planned first title defense against former champion, Stipe Miocic, at the end of the year. Therefore, an interim title was created and took place at UFC 295 as consolation.

Interim titles are made as placeholders that essentially guarantee who the definitive top, next title contender is when the champion is injured or unavailable. That’s, traditionally, the purpose of its existence. That titleholder wound up as Tom Aspinall after his 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich (watch highlights). However, Jones has proclaimed Aspinall’s insistence on fighting the undisputed champion, whether he or Miocic, more selfish than Jones wanting to unify the titles.

“Would you agree that it’s just as selfish to have a completely healthy intern champion who is only 30 years old, sitting out and waiting to fight the winner of a 42 and 36 year old.” Jones tweeted in response to a fan. “Who literally actually already committed to fighting each other? No one stopping anyone, I’m on a mission.

“I’m in the middle of a pretty clear decision… stick to exact and original plans, and fight the man with all the accolades,” he continued. “Or, completely disregard all of the Stipe training I’ve put in and fight another potential hype train that may not even be around in three years.

“I am not changing my plans for anyone,” Jones concluded. “Stipe is over there as the best Heavyweight ever working his ass off. I’m gonna give that man what he wants, and I’m going to claim another head. Whatever comes next comes next.”

As time goes on, Aspinall has continued to tumble down Jones’ totem pole of interest. UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira, garnered attention from “Bones” last week (Fri., May 3, 2024) when declared a more “massive fight” than Aspinall. Ultimately, Jones is seeking the match ups with magnitude, hence his desire to fight Miocic.

“I was talking about retirement after Stipe way before there was an intern champion announced,” Jones said. “I would literally be in the same exact position if Sergei would had one. I love how the UK have convinced themselves I’m afraid of their intern champion,opens me up to a whole new fan base.They all know who the actual champion is.”