Jon Jones has confirmed who he wants to fight after UFC 309.
But the bombshell update is not necessarily the news thousands of MMA fans would’ve liked to hear.
Jones takes on Miocic in the main event at UFC 309 on November 16 in Madison Square Garden, New York City.
He returned to Dana White‘s promotion in March 2023, after a three-year hiatus, to claim the heavyweight title for the first time by submitting Ciryl Gane.
42-year-old Miocic hasn’t fought in the UFC since dropping the heavyweight title to Francis Ngannou in March 2021.
Tom Aspinall is the official backup fighter for the bout, should either Miocic or Jones have to pull out due to an injury or unforeseen circumstances.
When asked whether he would defend the belt against Aspinall if he was victorious over Miocic at UFC 309 as the huge favourite, Jones had a very interesting response.
“More than likely not, more than likely not. I feel like Tom Aspinall is – I don’t want to say nobody – but he just hasn’t proven anything,” Jones said, speaking with Kevin Iole.
“He hasn’t done anything and I understand that. I mean, he won his belt against Sergei [Pavlovich], Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else.
“I’m not here to gamble someone else making a name of off me. I’m here to compete against the guys [so that] when we look back, 10 years from now, [they’ll say] Jon Jones fought this guy and that guy and this legend and this champion.”
Aspinall did indeed win the interim heavyweight title against Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023 by knocking him out inside the first round.
Pavlovich was on a six-fight win streak heading into the New York City bout and his only previous loss was to heavyweight icon Alistair Overeem on his UFC debut.
Aspinall then defended the interim status against Curtis Blaydes eight months later at UFC Manchester in July.
He knocked him out in the first round too in what was his last octagon appearance to date.
In fact, the Manchester man has the shortest average fight time in the UFC’s history, competing on average for just over two minutes, having finished all of his opponents in the first round one.
His only UFC loss came to Blaydes in the pair’s first bout in July 2022, when Aspinall tore his MCL and meniscus just 15 seconds into the bout.
“If there were to be a fight with a guy that’s still on our UFC roster,” Jones continued.
“That would be, not only financially worth it, but legacy worth it, it would be Alex Pereira.
“Alex Pereira and I, we’re both 37 years old. Right now I weigh about 235 [lbs] – I’m an incredibly light ‘heavyweight’.
“I think Pereira walks around at 240 [lbs]. And I think that fight would go much further on my legacy than a young man who is cool today and maybe done tomorrow.
“I’ve just been here too long to get all excited about someone who is hot today. I’m here for legacy, I’ve been gambling for way too long to just take random fights.”
There has yet to be a response from the Aspinall camp, but no doubt we will hear something from the Brit’s side of things before UFC 309.
He has already predicted that Miocic can knock Jones out, as the former has ‘big knockout power in comparison’.
The response from Jones is understandable, but very strange considering the amount of title defences he has endured over his career and the fact that Aspinall is literally the interim champion.
UFC president White has insisted that either Jones or Miocic will want to fight Aspinall after their New York City bout due to their competitive mindset.
Alex Pereira is the current light heavyweight champion and would be the first-ever UFC three-division champion, should he move up to heavyweight and defeat Jones.
