UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has made it clear that a title unification bout with interim champion Tom Aspinall is not at the top of his list, even though Aspinall holds a piece of the heavyweight title.
Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) will face Stipe Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) in the main event of UFC 309 on November 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York. This highly anticipated fight could potentially mark the end of Jones’ illustrious career, as the 37-year-old fighter has hinted at retirement following his bout with Miocic.
Having already cemented his legacy as a two-division UFC champion, Jones’ potential exit from the sport would not be surprising, particularly if he secures a victory over Miocic, widely regarded as one of the greatest heavyweight champions in UFC history.
While the public has been clamoring for a future title unification fight between Jones and Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), Jones does not share the same enthusiasm for the matchup. When asked if he would consider fighting Aspinall after UFC 309, Jones expressed his reservations.
“More than likely not,” Jones told Kevin Iole. “I feel like Tom Aspinall is, I don’t want to say nobody, but he just hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t done anything. I understand he won his belt against Sergei, and someone else just slaughtered Sergei, so I’m not here to gamble on someone making a name off me.”
Aspinall claimed the interim heavyweight title after he defeated Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295, a fight originally set as Jones’ next bout before an injury delayed it. Despite Aspinall’s impressive record and his rapid rise in the division, Jones remains unimpressed with his achievements thus far.
Jones is focused on securing his legacy by fighting the most accomplished and well-known names in the sport. “I’m here to compete against the guys where when we look back, you know, 10 years from now, you’ll be like, ‘Jon Jones fought this guy and that guy, this legend, and that champion and this champion,’” Jones explained.
While a fight with Aspinall doesn’t excite Jones as much, there is one opponent he finds intriguing—former middleweight champion Alex Pereira. Jones sees a fight with Pereira, who also has a 37-year-old career at the top level of combat sports, as a potential legacy-defining battle.
Jones said, “If there’s a fight with a guy still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it but also valuable for my legacy, it would be Alex Pereira.” “Right now, I weigh about 235. I’m an incredibly light heavyweight. I think Pereira walks around at 240. I think that fight would enhance my legacy much more than a young man who’s cool today and may disappear tomorrow.”
Jones pointed to the rise and fall of other fighters, such as Johnny Walker, as examples of how quickly the UFC landscape can change. “I remember a time when the whole world thought Johnny Walker was going to be the guy to beat me. No disrespect to Johnny Walker, but we all seen how his career has played out. I’ve just been here too long to get all excited about someone who is hot today. I’m here for legacy. I’ve been gambling way too long just to take random fights.”
For now, Jones remains focused on his clash with Miocic at UFC 309, but the potential for a matchup with Pereira could be a defining moment in his storied career if he decides to continue fighting.
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