Jon Jones performs the retirement U-Turn but says there’s nothing “annoying” Tom Aspinall can do to make the fight happen

On By Littum

Jon Jones doesn’t seem too keen on hanging up the gloves – but don’t think that means he’s collecting the heavyweight division.

The legendary two-weight world champion had been adamant that he would retire following his UFC 309 title defense against Stipe Miocic. But UFC boss Dana White was never sure, insisting he would fight one more time at the age of 37.

And it now appears that he is open to the idea of ​​staying in the sport. However, it’s not necessarily good news for Tom Aspinall, who he branded ‘annoying’ and insisted he will not fight under any circumstances despite his status as interim champion.

Jon Jones has regularly claimed that he will retire after UFC 309

For much of the build-up to his fight with fellow legend Miocic, Jon Jones has insisted he will not fight again after this month’s showdown. His coaches have echoed this sentiment, feeling that over a decade and a half is enough time to call it a day.

At the age of 37, Jones has already established himself as arguably the greatest fighter of all time, winning heavyweight and light-heavyweight world titles and breaking records. And he is intent on retiring at the top, not letting someone else build their name off his.

He told Clocked N’ Loaded at UFC 306 that his next outing is likely to be the last time we see him in the cage. Jones said: “I feel good, I feel really, really good, 250lb lean and strong. It will be the last time. More than likely.”

Now Jon Jones insists he is open to future fights

But in an interesting twist, he has now admitted that he would be willing to accept offers for another title defense after facing Miocic. It will be his first heavyweight title defense since winning the vacant belt against Ciryl Gane last March.

“I have a feeling it could be the last,” he told the New York Post of UFC 309. “But I’m also open to it not being the last. I just have to take it as I’ve always taken it one battle at a time.

“When you’re at the top of this sport for so long, you feel like you have such a big target on your back. I’ve learned that being in the future only creates anxiety, so in the end, no matter where much competition there is in the world, they can only fight me one at a time.

“So I just take it one game at a time. I will focus on beating Stipe first and then the next one will come and I will give him my undivided attention.”

Jon Jones says there is ‘nothing’ Tom Aspinall could have done to earn the fight

However, this does not necessarily mean good news for Tom Aspinall in the role of interim champion. The Brit won the belt by beating Sergei Pavlovich last year at The Garden when Miocic and Jones’ first meeting was called off and has even defended the belt against Curtis Blaydes.

But Jones isn’t interested, telling reporter Scott Fantana when asked what Aspinall can do to get him to invest: “Really nothing. I think he’s annoying and I’ve been here so long, that he just joined the UFC not too long ago.

Tom Aspinall of England reacts after his knockout victory against Curtis Blaydes in the interim UFC heavyweight bout at UFC 30...
Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images

“If he wanted to fight me he could have been here, it’s like ‘where have you been all this time?’ At the end of the day he has no real outstanding legacy, I think the only guy he has beaten is Andrei Arlovski and Andrei was very old at the time.

“So it’s like, he really doesn’t have anything that entices me. He reminds me of a lot of other up-and-comers that I fought where it does nothing for my legacy, nothing really. Maybe if he goes on and gets close to my wins record I might be enticed to come back and watch.

“But I highly doubt he will. Alex Pereira though, that’s one that interests me. He had good sagas with Israel Adesanya and he’s beaten Jamahal Hill, this guy is a master killer like myself. The kind of thing entices me.”

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