Dana White Confirms Jon Jones Will Face Tom Aspinall If He Fights Again After UFC 309

UFC President Dana White has made it clear that if Jon Jones chooses to continue his career after UFC 309, the only fighter he will face is interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

Jones is set to face Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this Saturday, but despite public speculation, White emphasized that Jones is not interested in a potential fight against UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. White rejected that possibility outright, citing Pereira’s background as a former middleweight and kickboxer, whose wrestling skills are nowhere near the level of Jones.

“If Jon Jones wants to fight again after Saturday night, he will fight Tom Aspinall,” White said in an interview with Jim Rome. This statement comes as a direct response to Jones’ recent comments about not wanting to face Aspinall, calling the English fighter an “assh*le” and dismissing the potential matchup.

Aspinall, who is in New York this week as a backup for the Miocic vs. Jones fight, has been vocal about wanting a shot at Jones, Aspinall claimed the interim heavyweight title almost exactly one year ago after Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle that delayed the Miocic fight. Aspinall later defended his title with an impressive first-round knockout over Curtis Blaydes in July.

Despite Jones’ reluctance to entertain the matchup, White is adamant that a fight between the two is inevitable if Jones chooses to continue. “Jon’s weird in how he deals with this type of stuff,” White said. “He’ll show up for a fight, prepare mentally and physically, and then disappear when it’s over. But if he comes back, Tom Aspinall is the only option.”

White also defended Jones against accusations of ducking opponents, emphasizing that Jones has faced the best in the world throughout his career and has never lost. “Jon Jones is around 37 or 38 years old, and he has fought everybody. He doesn’t duck anyone.”

If Jones defeats Miocic and chooses not to retire, White is confident that the long-awaited fight between Jones and Aspinall will finally happen. “Jon will disappear for a while, but that competitive spirit will come back, and then money will talk,” White concluded. “If he doesn’t retire, he absolutely, positively fights Aspinall.”