Jones Vs. Aspinall Could Happen In The Summer; Winner Could Face Pereira
Dana White has hinted that Jon Jones could face Tom Aspinall in the summer in what would be the UFC’s biggest-ever fight.
Jones is the UFC Heavyweight Champion who has been facing increasing pressure to take on Aspinall following his last performance. Jones defended his belt by stopping Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, sending his opponent into retirement. Aspinall secured his position for the title shot after stopping Curtis Blaydes in their rematch at UFC 304. The two fighters are in talks with the UFC as they await their next steps. Jones has been accused of avoiding Aspinall, as he eyed a fight with Alex Pereira instead.
“I think the numbers are incredibly high. Americans love Alex Pereira, Brazilians love Alex Pereira. If I go to a barber shop and ask ‘Do you know Tom Aspinall?’ No one knows who he is outside UFC fans. Alex Pereira is a household American star and that’s what I’m aiming for. I want the big fights,” Jones stated
But Jones has also suggested that he wants to face anybody if he is given the right amount of money. That has raised suggestions that Jones is simply trying to secure a big payday before his eventual exit from the sport. If Jones does not face Aspinall, there is increasing pressure on him to vacate his title. But White has now appeared to have formulated a compromise, which could play out with a fight in the summer.
White Reacts
That would then leave the winner to face off against UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira. Jones initially said that a Pereira fight is much bigger globally. However, Pereira is currently campaigning at light heavyweight. The biggest threat in the division is Magomed Ankalaev. If Alex were to win that fight, he would be in a position to face off against the winner of Jones vs. Aspinall.
“The plan is to fight Jon this summer. Obviously, when, where and all that stuff is being determined. My goal this year is to make that fight [with] Aspinall. The other thing about Pereira that everybody loves is, this guy wants to go up to heavyweight and fight at heavyweight, too. I’m the one that’s actually holding him back on that. He wants to [fight Jon Jones]. Let’s see how this fight plays out, if he wins, how he wins, all that kind of stuff. “I think that the fight that everybody wants to see right now is Jones and Aspinall and then there’s no doubt that Pereira could fight the winner,” White said
That would be welcome news for UFC fight fans since they missed out on seeing Jones face Francis Ngannou. The latter left the UFC in 2023 after contract talks broke down. Dana White responded by saying that he would never work with Ngannou again, as both camps blamed each other for the fight not happening. Jones and Aspinall do not have the problem of different promotional companies, meaning the time is right to make the fight.
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