Jon Jones Turned Down A UFC 300 Return, Says The Aspinall Fight Is ‘Not Off The Table’
Jon Jones turned down a chance to headline at UFC 300, saying he would not be ready.
Bones has been absent from the UFC since his win over Ciryl Gane to secure the UFC Heavyweight Championship of the world. He was on course to defend his belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295. Then disaster struck as he pulled out of the fight after injuring his pectoral muscle in sparring.
Jones underwent surgery with the intent of returning to fight in 2024. That is still the case, but he underwent further surgery on his elbow, keeping him out longer. While that may have been the case, Jones was still being considered for UFC 300. But Bones rejected it since he would not be 100 percent ready.
Jones On UFC 300
“I got a call from [UFC Chief Business Officer] Hunter Campbell, one of the head lawyers of the UFC, he said, ‘Jon, I know it’s only nine weeks away, but if there’s any chance you’re feeling up to it, it would be awesome news for the community that you’re coming back and headlining one of the biggest events ever. And, as honored as I am for the opportunity, I just don’t think I’ll be ready. I just don’t. So, I’m getting up there in age and I only have a few more events left, and I want to give those events my all and make sure that I come back 100 percent,” Jones said
As Jones remains injured, the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall has called for Bones to be stripped. Apsinal demanded that the belt be freed so he could face Miocic for the right to become champion. The winner would then face Jones in a championship bout. Dana White said the UFC would not do this; the Miocic fight was still on the cards.
“Well, the Stipe fight has to happen, yeah. Both of those guys deserve it. You got the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time [Jon Jones] versus the greatest heavyweight of all-time. They’ve paid their dues, they’ve done their things. These two want to fight each other. It’s going to happen. Whoever wins, we’ll see what they decide to do after that and then we’ll go from there,” White revealed
Jones On Aspinall
That left Aspinall with the choice of waiting on the sidelines or defending his interim title. Jones responded to Aspinall by recognizing that the Brit was doing the right thing by demanding the best fights. Jones fell short of saying he was ready to face Aspinall but did not rule out the fight moving forward.
“But the Tom fight is definitely not off the table. Especially with how I’ve been feeling being out here. I feel just totally reinvigorated and just re-energized just being around all these fans. So, I can’t just walk away. So, the ball is rolling in a really positive direction for me to continue my career,” Jones added
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