UFC commentator Jon Anik shared his prediction for the eagerly awaited heavyweight title unification bout between champion Jon Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall. Speaking to MMA Junkie, Anik projected the fight for December 2025 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, highlighting the city’s status as the fight capital.
Anik’s Vision for the Fight
Anik expressed confidence in the timeline and location for the Jones-Aspinall clash.
“I think we see it December 2025, T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas,” he told MMA Junkie. He dismissed the idea of Jones returning to Madison Square Garden, where Jones defeated Miocic in November 2024. “Well Jon Jones fought and won at Madison Square Garden in New York last November. I’m a Boston guy, place [NY] a fu*king dump. No, I mean he [Jones] checked that box,” Anik said, suggesting Jones has no need to fight there again.
He emphasized Las Vegas as the ideal setting, stating:
“I’m not sure what the taxes are but why does Jon Jones need to fight at Madison Square Garden, why not fight at T-Mobile Arena in the fight capital of the world Las Vegas?”
Anik’s prediction aligns with UFC CEO Dana White’s commitment to booking the fight in 2025, addressing fan frustration over delays and a Change.org petition urging Jones to face Aspinall or lose his title.
Jon Jones, 37, is a two-division UFC champion with a 28-1 record. He won the light heavyweight title in 2011 against Maurício Rua at UFC 128, holding it from 2011 to 2015 and again from 2018 to 2020, setting division records for title defenses. In 2023, he claimed the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. His latest fight was a third-round knockout of Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024. Jones’s career has faced challenges, including a 2015 hit-and-run, doping violations in 2016 and 2017, and a 2024 incident with a drug testing agent resolved through anger management classes.
Tom Aspinall, 31, won the interim heavyweight title with a 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023. With a 15-3 record, he defended the interim belt against Curtis Blaydes in July 2024, winning in one minute. Aspinall’s 12 knockouts highlight his finishing power, but he has voiced frustration over Jones’s delays, joking on social media about fighting for an “interim of the interim” title.
Context of the Delay and Jones’s Stance
The Jones-Aspinall fight has been highly anticipated since Aspinall won the interim title. Jones, sidelined by a pectoral injury in 2023, prioritized a legacy fight against Miocic, delaying the unification bout. This decision led to a Change.org petition calling for Jones to be stripped of his title. Dana White has described the matchup as the “biggest heavyweight fight” in UFC history, but Jones has remained cautious about discussing it.
At a recent seminar in Phuket, Jones addressed the delay, stating:
“I was waiting for it. The UFC, I, and Tom, we’ve all got a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes. They’re one of the biggest organizations in sports. Right now, Tom and I have agreed to wait for the UFC to make their announcements. So, legally I can’t really talk about it.”
His comments confirm ongoing negotiations and his commitment to letting the UFC finalize plans.
“Tom and I have agreed to wait for the UFC to make their announcements. So legally I can’t really talk about it.”
– Jon Jones on the Tom Aspinall fight 👀‼️ pic.twitter.com/UZzlsoRf2Y
— Happy Punch (@HappyPunch) June 1, 2025
Anik’s prediction of December 2025 at T-Mobile Arena provides clarity for fans awaiting the clash. Jones, nearing 38, faces a formidable opponent in Aspinall, whose 92% finish rate contrasts with Jones’s technical mastery. Michael Bisping has highlighted the fight’s potential for a massive payday, suggesting Madison Square Garden as an alternative, but Anik’s preference for Las Vegas reflects its status as a premier fight location.
With the UFC yet to confirm the date, the matchup promises a clash of styles, with Jones’s experience meeting Aspinall’s explosive power. The resolution of this long-delayed bout will shape the heavyweight division’s future and define Jones’s legacy as one of MMA’s greatest fighters.
