Jones is pushing back against fans on social media that continue to insist he hasn’t done enough to solidify his position as a legit heavyweight great.
Jon Jones is getting restless on social media, and that’s led him to tangle with some of his haters as he prepares to return from a bicep injury to defend his UFC heavyweight title.
While we don’t know when Jones will fight next, “Bones” revealed over the weekend that he had verbally agreed to a date for his next fight and will “let boss man Dana [White] announce” the details. As usual, his X (formerly Twitter) following replied to that message with a mix of praise and disdain, leading Jon to clap back.
“I’m also not allowed to take three years to become a heavyweight and absolutely demolish my first opponent,” he tweeted. “Nope, that was too long. Screw the flawless Victory. ‘Jones ran for three years. Too afraid of Francis.’ ‘He’s scared of everyone we haven’t seen him fight yet.’”
I’m also not allowed to take three years to become a heavyweight and absolutely demolish my first opponent . Nope, that was too long. Screw the flawless Victory. “Jones ran for three years. Too afraid of Francis” “he’s scared of everyone we haven’t seen him fight yet.”
— BONY (@JonnyBones) May 5, 2024
Jones’ injury has left the heavyweight division in limbo since he won the vacant title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Further frustrating to some fans is the GOAT contender’s insistence on fighting Stipe Miocic when he’s healed, not interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Even if he does decide to keep fighting after the Miocic bout (which is not a certainty), he has suggested he’d rather fight light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira than unify the belts.
“Yep, Stipe and then decisions decisions,” Jones said regarding his future. “I’m cool with this spot.”
He also responded to a fan who argued Ciryl Gane was a ‘tailor made’ opponent for him.
“Lol they all are tailor-made for me, even the close fights. I’m pretty damn good,” he said. “From my POV its like deja vu. Some of the most passionate fans ever believe with their whole heart that their guy is going to be the one who beats me. I make peoples’ heroes look average.”
It’s clear that Jones won’t be swayed from chasing the fights he wants to close his legendary career out on. That leaves Aspinall in a bit of a lurch. The UK interim champion is expected to defend the interim belt in Manchester at the end of July, and barring some strange change of fortune it will have to be against a contender instead of the champion.
Will he have to do it twice? Will he still be interim champion at the end of 2024? It’s all up to “Bones,” who is solely focused on his own path, not Aspinall’s.