Tom Aspinall Reacts To Dana White ‘Jumping Ship’ From Jon Jones To Islam Makhachev In P4P Debate

Tom Aspinall, like many fans and fellow fighters, tuned into UFC 311 to watch a man that many believe is at the very top of the sport right now. Islam Makhachev may have undergone a change to his opponent literally the day before fight night but this didn’t affect him one bit. The lightweight champion […]

Tom Aspinall, like many fans and fellow fighters, tuned into UFC 311 to watch a man that many believe is at the very top of the sport right now. Islam Makhachev may have undergone a change to his opponent literally the day before fight night but this didn’t affect him one bit.

The lightweight champion still went out there like it was business as usual and submitted Renato Moicano in the first round. It may not have been the Arman Tsarukyan rematch that people have wanted to see for such a long time but it once again showed that when Makhachev says it doesn’t matter who you put him in there with, he means it.

At 33-years old, he’s now the record holder for the most consecutive lightweight title defenses with four and by earning his 15th consecutive win inside the Octagon, he is tied at second with Kamaru Usman for the longest winning streak in UFC history with one spot to go until he draws level with Anderson Silva.

Another Makhachev win meant more people making the case for why he is the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport today. Whilst some may argue that the accomplishments of Jon Jones speak for themselves, others might state that “Bones” hasn’t been overly active or facing the same level of opposition.

It was only a matter of time before Dana White was once again asked about this topic having been very vocal in the past that it’s Jones with no room for debate. After seeing the UFC boss change his answer, Aspinall commented on this during a video on his YouTube channel.

“Now we’re seeing Dana White coming out and saying that he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 in the world, Islam Makhachev,” Aspinall said. “As we all know, to me, pound-for-pound is a lot of made-up stuff. I don’t look into that. But it’s just funny that he’s kind of jumped ship now from Jon Jones to Islam.”

Regardless of whether or not Makhachev was able to convince anyone else that he is the best fighter in the sport today, Aspinall was happy to see him go out there and get the win. In many ways, it felt like a fairly routine outing for the 155-pound king but that doesn’t bother the Brit one bit.

“Islam did what he was supposed to do: went out there, fought whoever was put in front of him, which is what a champion is supposed to do. Fought a guy that the UFC told him to fight, got the win, and he’s levels above anybody else in that division. He’s going to hold the belt for a long, long time, and that is something that I’m very excited for because I’m a massive Islam Makhachev fan.”

Tom Aspinall Reacts to Dana White Jumping Ship From ‘Bones’ to Makhachev in P4P Dispute

Dana WhiteLast year, Dana White couldn’t stop himself from calling Jon Jones the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world….

Dana White

Last year, Dana White couldn’t stop himself from calling Jon Jones the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Now, the UFC CEO is reversing course after seeing Islam Makhachev make quick work of short-notice replacement opponent Renato Moicano at the promotion’s first pay-per-view of the year.

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Makhachev scored a quick-fire submission victory over Moicano after his originally scheduled opponent, Arman Tsarukyan, bowed out of their lightweight championship headliner mere hours before they were scheduled to make the walk in Los Angeles.

Notching his fourth-straight defense of the 155-pound crown, Makhachev solidified his spot as the No. 1 ranked P4P fighter in the world and Dana White couldn’t agree more.

“There’s no doubt about it,” White said during the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “He’s the best pound-for-pound in the world right now and he’s the definitely the best to ever do it in that division.” 

It’s quite the change from where we were just a few months ago when White was getting into heated debates with journalists over Jones’ undeniable status as the greatest of all time.

But White’s comments mean very little to Tom Aspinall, the man slated to square off with ‘Bones’ later this year.

“Now we’re seeing Dana White coming out and saying that he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 in the world, Islam Makhachev,” Aspinall said in a video on his YouTube channel. “As we all know, to me, pound-for-pound is a lot of made-up stuff. I don’t look into that. But it’s just funny that he’s kind of jumped ship now from Jon Jones to Islam… Islam did what he was supposed to do: went out there, fought whoever was put in front of him, which is what a champion is supposed to do.”

Dana White Confident Jones vs. Aspinall goes down in 2025

Following Jon Jones’ win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, attention quickly turned to a long-awaited title indication clash with Aspinall, the promotion’s interim heavyweight titleholder. During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, White expressed confidence that the fight will get done in 2025.

“We’re in the works, we’re talking on it,” White said. “I mean, I’ve said that I’m very confident that fight happens this year… Nothing’s holding it up. It’s just a matter of getting it done. You know, this stuff, it’s not as easy to put these types of fights together as people think they are. They take time, and we’ll get it done.”

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Just a few short weeks ago, rumors began swirling that Jones was seeking a massive $30 million payday for his scrap with Aspinall. However, Dana White called bullsh*t on the rumors, but only after Joe Rogan repeated it during an episode of his JRE podcast.

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Dana White’s Latest Update On Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Is A Promising One

Right at the top of every fight fans’ wish list for 2025 is the potential for a heavyweight title unification clash in the UFC. Jon Jones might be considered by many to be the greatest to ever do it but some still question whether he is the best in his current division. Interim champion Tom […]

Right at the top of every fight fans’ wish list for 2025 is the potential for a heavyweight title unification clash in the UFC. Jon Jones might be considered by many to be the greatest to ever do it but some still question whether he is the best in his current division.

Interim champion Tom Aspinall has a claim to be the best heavyweight in the world right now and his speed, power and age makes him such an interesting challenge for Jones to take on. The excitement around seeing them meet inside the Octagon has only increased following the comments that have been exchanged between them, specifically on the side of the heavyweight champion who hasn’t been overly interested in the fight.

Fortunately, Dana White is and though Jones has proven to be a stubborn negotiator in the past, the UFC clearly wants to make it happen and that’s a step in the right direction. With Aspinall saying that he has already agreed to everything on his side, there appears to be plans in motion.

White gave the same impression during a recent interview with Jim Rome where he spoke about the fight and his expectations of seeing it take place.

“We’re in the works, we’re talking on it. I mean, I’ve said that I’m very confident that fight happens this year.”

Without having a look behind the scenes, many will assume given the narrative surrounding the fight that getting Jones to sign on the dotted line will be the biggest hurdle. White said that despite this, he doesn’t believe there is a substantial barrier stopping this deal from getting across the line.

“Nothing. Nothing’s holding it up. It’s just a matter of getting it done. You know, this stuff, it’s not as easy to put these type of fights together as people think they are. They take time and we’ll get it done.”

(White appears on the show and talks about the fight at around the 2:37:00 mark)

Henry Cejudo Backs Jon Jones: ‘Too Smart’ for Tom Aspinall in Heavyweight Showdown

Henry Cejudo Backs Jon Jones: ‘Too Smart’ for Tom Aspinall in Heavyweight ShowdownTom Aspinall is really good, but Jon Jones is just too smart. Over the last several days, every major…

Henry Cejudo Backs Jon Jones: ‘Too Smart’ for Tom Aspinall in Heavyweight Showdown

Tom Aspinall is really good, but Jon Jones is just too smart.

Over the last several days, every major MMA news outlet has been running stories about a potential clash between undisputed heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall. Most of them surrounding Joe Rogan’s claim that ‘Bones’ was seeking a massive $30 million payday for the fight.

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Since then, Rogan has backtracked on his statement after UFC CEO Dana White reportedly called him up directly and called bullsh*t on the rumor.

Still, Rogan’s one comment about the fight immediately made waves, proving once again that fighters, fans, and analysts alike are desperate to see two of the best MMA athletes on the planet compete against one another.

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Right now, Aspinall is a slight favorite to come out on top in the yet-to-be-announced unification clash, but former champ-champ Henry Cejudo doesn’t necessarily see it that way.

Cejudo thinks Aspinall is good, but not good enough to beat Jon Jones

Speaking on his Pound-4-Pound podcast alongside Kamaru Usman, ‘Triple C’ revealed that after seeing Aspinall train, he had to admit that while the Brit is pretty damn good, he’s not good enough to beat the GOAT.

“Heavyweight, I’m going Jon Jones, bro,” Cejudo said. “I watched a little bit of Tom Aspinall yesterday. Really, really good. But Jones is just too smart, bro.”

We may not know exactly when Jones vs. Aspinall will go down, but we can confirm that Cejudo will step back inside the Octagon on February 22 when the UFC heads back to Seattle, Washington.

In the main event of the evening, Cejudo will square off with No. 8 ranked contender Song Yadong. The co-main event will also see the return of another former champion as Dominick Cruz faces Rob Font. It will be Cruz’s first time competing since an August 2022 loss to Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

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‘Jon Jones Is Smart in His Approach’ – Daniel Cormier on Jones’ UFC Leverage in Tom Aspinall Fight

'Jon Jones Is Smart in His Approach’ - Daniel Cormier on Jones' UFC Leverage in Tom Aspinall MatchDaniel Cormier can’t see the UFC paying Jon Jones $30 million for a fight with Tom Aspinall, but if…

'Jon Jones Is Smart in His Approach’ - Daniel Cormier on Jones' UFC Leverage in Tom Aspinall Match

Daniel Cormier can’t see the UFC paying Jon Jones $30 million for a fight with Tom Aspinall, but if fans want it bad enough, Dana White will deliver.

After leaving the door open for a showdown with the interim titleholder in November, Jones’ reported asking price for the quote-unquote biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history is a steep one.

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And while some, like longtime color commentator Joe Rogan, think the promotion will ultimately give the GOAT what he’s asking for, others, like former champ-champ Daniel Cormier, think the UFC will be successful in booking the bout, though not to the tune of $30 million.

“I ain’t doing it, so then it made people go, ‘I want this, I want this.’ And when you want something, especially you, the family, because you drive everything, when you want something bad, the UFC tends to make it happen,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “Will it make it happen to the tune of $30 million? I don’t know. I wouldn’t say that it would happen, but what I do know is that they will be far more willing to have the conversation.

“So, for all the time that everybody has said how horrible Jones is, and he’s stupid, he’s an idiot, me being at the lead of this, very smart in the way that he’s approached this. Especially if he wins—imagine if he wins.”

Jon Jones beating Aspinall would be bad for the UFC

So what happens if Jon Jones does defeat Tom Aspinall? Chances are, he would either stick around long enough to cash in on another big-money fight, like a showdown with light heavyweight king Alex Pereira, or he would simply walk away from the fight game with his gold and his GOAT status secured.

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To Cormier, that would be the worst-case scenario.

“They’ve got to get him in there with Aspinall. And you’ve got to hope that Aspinall wins if you want the heavyweight title to continue being what the heavyweight title has been,” Cormier said. “Because if he doesn’t, and Jones goes, ‘I’m walking away as the greatest of all time, as the reigning heavyweight champion,’ it leaves a gap that’s hard to fill.”

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‘Joe Rogan Thinks UFC Will Pay It’: Daniel Cormier Weighs in on Jon Jones’ $30 Million Request

'Joe Rogan Thinks UFC Will Pay It’: Daniel Cormier Weighs in on Jon Jones’ $30 Million RequestIf the UFC wants to book a title unification clash between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, they’re gonna have…

'Joe Rogan Thinks UFC Will Pay It’: Daniel Cormier Weighs in on Jon Jones’ $30 Million Request

If the UFC wants to book a title unification clash between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, they’re gonna have to pony up some serious dough.

Following his third-round stoppage of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, ‘Bones’ left the door open for a long-awaited showdown with Aspinall to unify their respective heavyweight titles. But just because Jones is willing to take the fight, doesn’t mean he’s going to do it for cheap.

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According to popular podcaster and long-time UFC color commentator Joe Rogan, the undisputed heavyweight champions’s asking price is a whopping $30 million. That might sound like a lot, but let’s not forget that ‘Bones’ is without a doubt the greatest mixed martial artist in the history of the sport, regardless of your opinion on his antics outside the cage.

Add that to the fact that Jones vs. Aspinall would be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history, and you’ve got an opportunity for both fighters to cash in big. Especially Jones.

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However, not everyone is convinced that Dana White and Co will fork over that kind of cash for anyone not named Conor McGregor.

“Rogan thinks that the UFC is gonna pay it,” Daniel Cormier said on his YouTube channel. Rogan thinks that the UFC will pay the $30 million to get Jon Jones in there with Tom Aspinall. I’m not sure he gets to 30, but if you ask for 30 and you get 20 or you get 15, that’s a win for Jon Jones.”

Cormier thinks the UFC needs tom Aspinall to beat jon jones

DC’ also stressed the importance of not only getting Jon Jones inside the Octagon with Aspinall, but the Brit coming out on top in their potential clash. If not, ‘Bones’ could potentially walk away from the fight game with gold still strapped around his waist, leaving the promotion in a precarious position.

“Jones leaves, and you can do whatever you want,” Cormier said. “We could go Aspinall versus [Alex] Pereira, Aspinall versus this guy, or that guy. It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter because, even though Francis Ngannou isn’t the name that Jon Jones is, people were saying when Jones became champ, “Well, he didn’t beat Francis,” right? There was a break in the heavyweight championship timeline. If you want to say it like that, we can make massive fights, but it will never overcome the idea that Jon Jones left as the champ. And then that would happen two times back to back. So it’d be a massive mistake.

“They’ve got to get him in there with Aspinall. And you’ve got to hope that Aspinall wins if you want the heavyweight title to continue being what the heavyweight title has been. Because if he doesn’t, and Jones goes, ‘I’m walking away as the greatest of all time, as the reigning heavyweight champion,” it leaves a gap that’s hard to fill.’”

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