Jones Hints At Retirement, Allowing Him To Duck Aspinall
Jon Jones has hinted that he will retire this year, suggesting he will leave the sport after facing Stipe Miocic.
Bones is currently injured as he prepares to face Miocic in a second defense of his UFC Heavyweight Title. He won the belt after returning to sport from a three-year break to submit Ciryl Gane in the first round. Jones then suffered a pectoral muscle injury, meaning he had to withdraw from his UFC 295 title defense against Miocic.
Jones’ Retirement
Tom Aspinall is waiting in the wings to face the winner of Jones-Miocic. The Brit stopped Curtis Blaydes in his last fight at UFC 304 to put himself for that fight. Dana White has confirmed this, leaving Jones with a decision to make. White has confirmed that Miocic will retire from the sport after facing Jones. But now it appears Jones could do the same.
“Fun fact: after this year, Jon Jones will never have to work again. Retired at age 37. Winning,” Jones said
Aspinall could then move elsewhere. The Brit is open to fighting UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira. The two-weight UFC champion hinted that he could move to heavyweight after stopping Jiri Prochazka at UFC 303. In his post-fight comments, Pereira stated he could move up if the fans wanted the fight. Since then, he has confirmed he would only move up for a title shot.
“It doesn’t interest me to fight [Aspinall] at the moment. To be honest, heavyweight isn’t my goal, it isn’t my main focus. Tom Aspinall, not talking him as a fighter, I’m talking positions. I think I’m in another position now. It doesn’t make sense for me to fight for the interim belt, honestly. I am not taking anything away from [Aspinall], I respect him a lot. I think he’s an incredible athlete, a guy that is very dangerous technically. I’m just talking about fighting for an interim belt. There’s no point for me,” Pereira said
Aspinall’s Other Option
So far, that would be against Jones. But if Bones retires, it leaves the door open for an Apsinall fight since the belt would be vacant. That is the biggest fight to make in the UFC if Jones retires.
“The guy’s a superstar in the sport, so you do whatever you want. But, it would be, for sure, if we’re both on the same page, it would be for the undisputed heavyweight title. So, maybe see you next year at some point. Like I’ve said, I’ve got a lot of respect for Alex Pereira, what he’s done for the sport, especially in a short amount of time…But if we’re gonna make it happen, it’s gonna be for the undisputed title, so see him there,” Aspinall stated
If Jones retires, it will be a massive blow for UFC fans. Fans had already missed the Francis Ngannou fight after The Predator left the UFC last year. Contract talks broke down when he signed up for the PFL. Meanwhile, Dana White has ruled out working with the PFL in a co-promotion. Will fans suffer the same fate with Jones-Aspinall?
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