A petition calling for the UFC to strip Jon Jones of his heavyweight title has gathered over 100,000 signatures by May 28, 2025, driven by frustration over his delay in fighting interim champion Tom Aspinall. Launched on Change.org, the campaign targets UFC CEO Dana White, pressing for a resolution to the stalled heavyweight division.
Born July 19, 1987, in Rochester, New York, Jon Jones holds a 27-1 record and is a former UFC light heavyweight champion with 11 title defenses, a division record. He won the heavyweight title in March 2023 by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 and defended it against Stipe Miocic with a third-round TKO at UFC 309 on November 16, 2024.
Jones has avoided fighting Aspinall, stating in a November 2024 interview with Adin Ross, “The only way that we do it is if Dana and Hunter give me a check that really changes my mind.” This has sparked significant backlash among fans.
The Change.org petition, started in early May 2025, gained momentum quickly, reaching 30,000 signatures by May 23 and surpassing 100,000 by May 28, 2025. It argues Jones’ inactivity since November 2024 blocks contenders like Aspinall and Alexander Volkov, hindering the division’s progress.
Journalist Ariel Helwani noted on May 28, 2025, via Instagram, “The petition to strip Jon Jones has hit 115,000 signatures,” reflecting fans’ demand for action. The petition directly addresses Dana White to resolve the issue.
The petition to strip Jon Jones is now at 115k signatures. That’s a crazy number.
I will say, if Jon told the UFC that he’s not interested, that’s totally fine. It’s no longer on him. Strip him.
Can we just move on? No one is benefiting from this. pic.twitter.com/IhQHYF3VzD
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) May 28, 2025
The petition to strip Jon Jones of the UFC heavyweight title has surpassed 100,000 signatures 😳 pic.twitter.com/Vf5xVVperF
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) May 28, 2025
Aspinall’s Push for a Fight
Tom Aspinall, born April 11, 1993, in England, has a 15-3 record and won the interim heavyweight title in November 2023 by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. He defended it with a first-round knockout of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July 2024, holding the interim belt longer than any UFC fighter.
Aspinall has called for a unification bout, telling Mighty Mouse in May 2025, “I’m a bad matchup for him, and he knows it.” His efforts remain unanswered, fueling fan support for the petition.
Daniel Cormier, in a May 2025 YouTube video, suggested Jones fears a knockout, stating, “With Aspinall, he can potentially get knocked out, like legitimately knocked out.” Jones has instead shown interest in fighting Alex Pereira, per a May 2025 report, further delaying Aspinall.
Volkov, after defeating Ciryl Gane in June 2024, expressed frustration in a May 2025 interview, saying, “My time is running out,” highlighting the division’s stagnation due to Jones’ reluctance.
The UFC heavyweight division remains locked, with contenders like Volkov unable to secure title shots. The petition draws comparisons to Conor McGregor’s 2016 featherweight title stripping for inactivity, urging a similar outcome if Jones continues to delay.
Dana White, in a May 2025 ESPN interview, expressed hope, stating, “I think we’ll get that fight done,” but no timeline has been set, leaving the division in uncertainty.
The petition’s 100,000 signatures signal strong fan pressure for change. Historical UFC actions, like McGregor’s case, suggest stripping Jones is possible if delays persist. Fans hope for a Jones-Aspinall fight, potentially at UFC 320 in November 2025, as Cormier speculated.
