Jon Jones has scotched calls from interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall for him to be stripped of his heavyweight crown amid his period of inactivity through injury, claiming the Atherton native should not think he can already call shots just three years into his UFC tenure.
Jones, a current heavyweight champion and former pound-for-pound number one, was scheduled to make his return to the Octagon at UFC 295 last month at Madison Square Garden, with a pectoral tendon tear ruling the Endicott native from a championship defense against the returning Stipe Miocic.
As a result, the above-mentioned, Aspinall featured on the card in a short-notice interim title fight with Russian knockout artist, Sergei Pavlovich, stopping the division contender with a blistering opening round knockout win of his own.
And maintaining he would fight the above-mentioned, Miocic in Jones’ absence from the Octagon through injury, Aspinall made calls for the former two-time light heavyweight champion, to be stripped of his heavyweight title to boot.
Jon Jones fires shots at fellow UFC champion, Tom Aspinall
Taking issue with Aspinall’s requests to UFC CEO, Dana White – who claimed Jones would be fighting Miocic in his return to active competition, the former urged the British heavyweight to cool his jets on talk of forced relinquishing.
“I’ve faced the absolute toughest competition this would had to offer for 15 years now,” Jon Jones posted on his official X account. “During camp for a title defense I sustained a major injury that required surgery for the first time in my career. Now I have newcomers requesting I get my championship stripped. Zero wins over legends, zero title defenses, and already thinking you can call the shots to Dana, that’s hilarious.”
“In my 15 year career I have seen so many guys who are supposed to be the next big thing,” Jon Jones continued. “There’s ever only been one Jon Jones, never forget that.”
Who wins in a future fight: Jon Jones or Tom Aspinall?