Jon Jones believes that Tom Aspinall should be patient and wait his turn for a shot at the UFC heavyweight title. Aspinall, who is currently the interim champion, has been vocal about wanting to face Jones instead of Stipe Miocic in his return fight after recovering from a pectoral injury. Traditionally, the UFC considers the interim champion as the top contender when the champion is ready to defend their title.
However, UFC officials have indicated that Miocic, the former champion who hasn’t fought since March 2021, will be Jones’ opponent upon his return. Aspinall expressed his disappointment with this decision, leading to a social media exchange between him and Jones. The highlights of their exchange are as follows:
Jones addressed Aspinall on Instagram, saying, “I only recognize four names on your resume. It’s whack to launch TikTok attacks while I’m injured. You don’t get any points for that where I come from.”
Jones also took to Twitter, writing, “Only four recognizable opponents, and already the king of England. It must be nice. There will be legendary tales told about you and your infamous callouts. I was a champion at 23 years old, and you can’t pretend like you’ve been chasing me your whole life. I don’t know 90% of your resume, while I’ve been a highlight of UFC events throughout my career.”
Aspinall responded, “Jon, you’re letting your ego run wild. I’m not downplaying your resume. It’s incredible. Far superior to mine. You’re known as the best fighter ever, and that’s why I want to beat you. Can’t you understand that?”
Jones replied, “It’s a wild world we live in! People are quick to replace you, throw you away, and discredit your work. That’s the beauty of stats and seeing the fruits of your labor. Be an absolute savage at what you do. Let the work speak for itself, be undeniable.”
Jones also criticized Aspinall for constantly mentioning him since winning the interim championship. He pointed out that neither Aspinall nor Sergei Pavlovich have any championships to their name. Jones emphasized that the actual champion is undefeated and had a flawless last performance.
In addition, Jones explained that the business aspect of his fight with Miocic is too significant to turn down, as it impacts both of their legacies. He stated that his primary goal was to come back from two surgeries and defeat Miocic, which would be a massive accomplishment for his career. Jones acknowledged that while Aspinall may seem impressive now, a win over him wouldn’t do much for his legacy. He emphasized that there is more happening behind the scenes that fans may not fully understand, highlighting the business side of the sport.
Jones believes that Aspinall should wait his turn and understand the complexities of the fight game.
