Tom Aspinall, the UFC interim heavyweight champion, announced his belief that heavyweight champion Jon Jones has retired, urging the division to move forward. Speaking on the Good Guy/Bad Guy YouTube show with Daniel Cormier and Chael Sonnen, Aspinall expressed his ambition to be recognized as the undisputed champion and restore excitement to the heavyweight ranks by taking on all top contenders.
Aspinall’s Firm Stance on Jones
Aspinall dismissed waiting for Jones, stating:
“Jon’s retired,” Aspinall said. “What are you talking about? You guys don’t follow Jon on social media? The guy is living his best life. He’s had a fantastic career, we all know. We know Jon’s a religious man, so I want to say God bless him moving forward, what he does in his life and his career, and we move on. We move on. I’m the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I’m ready to take on all comers, get this division moving again. Us guys have been waiting around too long. The guys, contenders are getting sick of it, everybody’s getting sick of it, even the fans are getting sick of it. Jon’s retired and it’s time that we move on.”
He reinforced his focus on activity, saying:
“If one guy is thinking about retiring, he’s retired. I ain’t thinking about retiring. I’m thinking about getting this division active, making the heavyweight division great again, getting these big fights in, fighting these contenders who are sat on the sidelines waiting for over a year at this point. I’m here to fight, man.” via MMAFighting
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 showcase his finishing power. His UFC career began in 2020, with notable wins over Alexander Volkov and Marcin Tybura, though he suffered a knee injury loss to Blaydes in 2022. He trains at Team Kaobon in Liverpool, England.
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 records for title defenses. In 2023, he captured the heavyweight title by submitting Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. His 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.
Aspinall clarified he’s not fixated on Jones.
“I’m not looking to fight Jon Jones,” he said. “I’m looking to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship. That’s what I want to be. I want to be the UFC undisputed heavyweight champion. I see a lot of people comparing me to Michael Chandler. Michael Chandler waited for a long time for Conor McGregor. I’m not waiting for one fight. I’m not trying to fight one guy. I’m trying to fight all the guys. I’m trying to be the guy at heavyweight who takes out everybody.”
He named potential opponents, stating:
“It doesn’t matter who it is. Ciryl Gane, [Alexander] Volkov rematch, [Jailton] Almeida, Derrick Lewis, Brock Lesnar, whoever it is, I don’t care. I want to fight everybody, and I want to fight as much as possible, get some excitement back in this division. Let’s not talk about Jon Jones anymore. All the best, the guy’s living his best life. Full respect to him, wish him all the best in the future, he deserves all the money and success that he gets. I’m the active guy, I’m going to fight somebody, and that’s going to be announced pretty soon.”
The Jones-Aspinall unification bout has been stalled since Aspinall won the interim title in 2023, partly due to Jones’s pectoral injury that year. UFC CEO Dana White labeled the fight the “biggest heavyweight fight” in history, but Jones’s social media posts in May 2025, hinting at enjoying life outside the octagon, prompted Aspinall’s retirement claim. Jones’s Phuket seminar comment, “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,” suggests ongoing talks, but Aspinall is unwilling to wait.
A Change.org petition has called for Jones to be stripped of his title due to the delay, reflecting contender frustration. Aspinall’s assertion that a new fight will be announced soon indicates his shift toward active competition, though no opponent or date was specified.
Aspinall’s commitment to frequent fights contrasts with Jones’s recent inactivity. His willingness to face contenders like Gane, Volkov, Almeida, or Lewis aims to reinvigorate a division slowed by the unification delay. A rematch with Volkov or a clash with knockout specialist Lewis would offer compelling matchups.
The UFC has not confirmed Jones’s retirement, and his Phuket statement implies he may still fight. However, Aspinall’s focus on action over waiting positions him as the division’s driving force. Dana White suggested in November 2024 that Aspinall could be elevated to undisputed champion if Jones steps away, aligning with Aspinall’s self-proclamation.
Aspinall’s upcoming fight announcement will set the course for the heavyweight division. His goal to “fight everybody” and restore excitement signals a new era, whether Jones returns or not. If elevated to undisputed champion, Aspinall’s active reign could redefine the division’s landscape, delivering the high-profile bouts contenders and audiences crave.
The outcome of this situation, driven by Aspinall’s resolve, will determine the UFC heavyweight division’s future, with his aggressive approach poised to leave a lasting impact.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETt2lKCJ9MA&ab_channel=ESPNMMA
