UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones will finally make his Octagon return in November.
“Bones” is scheduled to defend his 265-pound strap against former division titleholder Stipe Miocic, a five-round showdown that was previously scheduled for UFC 295 late last year but delayed when Jones suffered a pectoral tear.
In his absence, fast-rising heavyweight bruiser Tom Aspinall captured the interim crown in New York, then defended the substitute strap by laying waste to Curtis Blaydes in their UFC 304 rematch last month in Manchester.
Unfortunately, the 31 year-old “Honey Badger” will have to sit on the sidelines while Jones and Miocic settle their unfinished business.
A choice that will undoubtedly protect the champ’s UFC legacy.
“Jon Jones is not an idiot,” Aspinall told MMA Fighting. “Even though he might act like it sometimes. He’s not unintelligent. Stipe, one of the best heavyweights if not the best heavyweight of all time. Stipe’s also 43 years old, coming off a three-year layoff and his last fight was a knockout loss. Obviously, he’s going to want to take that fight before me because it’s easier. Way easier. Way, way, way easier. He knows that I’m the tougher fight for him. I’m not going to say [Jones is] scared because he isn’t, but he’s smart in his approach and he’s going to fight Stipe before me every time.”
Sadly, Jones doesn’t have time for “intern” champions like Aspinall.
“I’d like to think he would [fight me] but at this point is Jon Jones even fighting Stipe? We don’t know,” Aspinall continued. “We have no idea. Like I said, Jon Jones is a bit of an unusual guy. You don’t get what you see. He’s tricky, slimy, snaky, he does different movements. He says one thing, does another. So I don’t know. I have no idea to be honest. Jon got one win in the heavyweight division. I got eight, all finishes. I’m not saying my résumé is better than Jon Jones because it isn’t. It’s not close. He’s way better than me but as far as heavyweights go, I’m the best heavyweight in the world.”
And impatient UFC fans are the best crybabies in the world, according to Miocic.