Jon Jones is UFC heavyweight champion.
“Bones” captured the crown by submitting former interim champion Ciryl Gane during their UFC 285 headliner back in early 2023. The belt was vacant at the time of their contest because former division titleholder, Francis Ngannou, surrendered the strap after the promotion granted “The Predator” his unconditional release.
Ngannnou defeated Gane at UFC 270 in early 2022.
That’s why No. 4-ranked title contender, Curtis Blaydes, insists his UFC 304 co-main event on July 27 at Co-op Live in Manchester against current interim 265-pound champion (and former beer buddy), Tom Aspinall, is “absolutely” for the “real” heavyweight crown.
“Jon won the heavyweight belt off of Ciryl Gane, who got the belt off of [nobody],” Blaydes said during his conversation with The MMA Hour. “I know Jon is going to hear this and say, ‘What? You don’t view me as the best heavyweight?!’ No Jon, I don’t think you’ve actually fought a heavyweight. I’m sorry. I view Aspinall as the guy with the real belt. There’s nothing bad you can say about him.”
He might wanna check with “Bones” on that one.
“With Jon, I’m going to be honest, he doesn’t look like a heavyweight,” Blaydes continued. “When he stepped into that cage with Ciryl Gane, I know I’m not the only one who thought he looked a little top heavy. He could’ve proved me wrong. He could’ve fought Aspinall and proved everyone wrong, but he wants Stipe.”
Jones has been holding out for a Stipe Miocic title defense for more than a year, thanks in part to a devastating injury that benched “Bones” for several months. No word yet on when the promotion plans to finalize this overdue showdown, but in the meantime, it may become increasingly difficult (post-UFC 304) for Jones to maintain his position as the “real” champ.
Despite this constant cheerleading.