Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones continue their feud, but it appears the British fighter has stopped pursuing a matchup with the current UFC heavyweight champion.
Jones will defend his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 on November 16th at Madison Square Garden in New York. While many consider interim champion Aspinall to be a legitimate title contender, Jones is adamant about fighting Miocic, who hasn’t fought since losing by knockout to Francis Ngannou in 2021. .
Jones recently dismissed the idea of facing Aspinall, claiming the Briton hasn’t done enough to invite him into the fight.
“Tom Aspinall – I hate to say it.” [he is a] Nobody has, but he hasn’t proven anything,” Jones recently told New York Post Sports. “He’s not doing anything…really nothing, you know?” I think he’s annoying. I mean, he just…I’ve been here for a long time. He just came to the UFC a while ago. If he wanted to fight me, he could have been here. I was like, “Where have you been?” After all, he has no notable accomplishments. I think the only guy he beat was Andrei Arlovskiy, but Andrei was very old at the time. There’s nothing about him that really attracts me, nothing. ” UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic. Saturday at 10 a.m. ET on ESPN+. Order now!
Aspinall is a backup fighter for the UFC 309 headliner, but the interim heavyweight champion is no longer pursuing a matchup with Jones. However, “Honey Badger” reminded Jones of his accomplishments by posting clips of his highlights and UFC records.
Tom Aspinall posted a video of his accomplishments in response to Jon Jones saying he was ‘doing nothing’ 👀👀
🎥IG/ @aspinalMMA
#UFC
#mixed martial arts
#UFC309 pic.twitter.com/FmAZgqSumo
— Championship Round (@ChampRDS)
November 8, 2024
Aspinall won the interim title by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 last year, and defended it with a knockout win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July of this year. Jones, on the other hand, has not fought since winning the title with a submission victory over Cyrille Gane in his heavyweight debut at UFC 285 in March 2023. Both Jones and Miocic have repeatedly hinted at retirement while talking about their futures after UFC 309. Even if he stays there, he has no interest in fighting Aspinall. ‘Bones’ has a more appealing opponent in light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, one of the fastest rising stars in the sport.
“Pereira, that’s someone that’s interesting to me…this guy is a champion killer like me, and that’s what attracts me,” Jones said. “I’m going to play matches that just put me in a different category financially.”
Jon Jones says he can’t do ‘nothing’ to make Tom Aspinall interested in the fight 😬
“I found [Aspinall] Annoying…the only guy he beat was Andrei Arlovskiy…
There’s nothing about him that really attracts me. ”
#UFC309 #UFC
#mixed martial artspic.twitter.com/5SpGfGlwcj
— Championship Round (@ChampRDS)
November 8, 2024
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