UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is ready to defend his title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 this November at Madison Square Garden. This marks Jones’ return to the Octagon after a one-year hiatus, and the anticipation among fans is palpable. But the fight many expected to see—a showdown between Jones and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall—has been cancelled. Aspinall, who has been waiting for a union fight since last year, found the call for a fight with Jones largely ignored.
Jones v. Aspinall
Jones’ recent social media signals have given rise to speculation about a possible future feud with Espinal. However, many in the MMA community, including analyst Michael Bisping, view these signs with skepticism. Bisping believes the talk of Jones retiring might just be a ploy, similar to comments the fighter made in the past.
UFC’s lead commentator Jon Anik has shed light on the situation during an appearance on the podcast. Anik reminded Dana White of his earlier comments, promising that if Jones beats Miocic, a fight with Espinal would be next. Anik speculated that while a fight with Aspinall could be a fitting end to Jones’ career, the winner would want to avoid it to protect his legacy Anik added jokingly adding, “If I could get a betting route on Between John Jones and Tom Aspinall, . I would ask my wife if I would, you know, spend more accounts.”.
Uncertain Future for Tom Aspinall
Tom Aspinall is the interim heavyweight champion and has been defending his title since Jones’ last fight. Despite his impressive record, which includes numerous wins and defenses, both Jones and White seem focused on the legacy battle with Miocic. This focus raises questions about Aspinall’s future. The division is fraught with uncertainty, and the potential outcome of UFC 309 could drastically change the landscape.
Renato Moicano’s Insights into Jones vs . Aspinall Conflict
A potential meeting between Jones and Aspinall is highly intriguing. UFC star Gilbert Burns recently appeared on Renato Moicano’s podcast, where Moicano shared his thoughts on fantasy fighting. Moicano, who raved about Espinal’s strengths, believes the interim winner is in top form.
Moicano pointed out that although Jones was strong as a child, he has shown weakness lately. “Jon Jones is not in his prime right now. Remember Dominic Reyes? He pushed her hard. Thiago Santos also had a strong performance. At the end of his career, Jones was not the same fighter that Shogun knocked out at age 23. Espinal Jones represents what he used to be,” Moicano said.
The Future of the Heavyweight Division
While it seems that Jones vs. A potential Aspinall fight is unlikely at this point, not off the table at all. Jones, similar to Conor McGregor, is known for his mind games and he could be hype or playing mind games. Espinal remains the backup fighter for Miocic vs. Miocic. Jones fight, which means that if Miocic is unable to compete, we will still see a highly anticipated fight between Jones and Aspinal.
