Dana White confirms UFC plans for Jon Jones v Tom Aspinall

On By Littum

Dana White has set out the UFC’s stance on Jon Jones’ next fight, confirming plans for the American to face interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

Controversy has surrounded Jones’ reluctance to face the British fighter following his legacy fight against Stipe Miocicat at UFC 309 on Saturday.

And fans have been pressing for confirmation that Jones, should he defeat Miocic, will return to the octagon against Aspinall in a mouth-watering clash between generations.

But despite the American’s barbs on Aspinall’s CV and a desire to face higher-profile fighters such as Alex Pereira, White maintains Jones’ UFC future beyond this weekend must run through Aspinall.

“Obviously a guy like Jon Jones has had a career where, you know, if he wants something, we’ll do it,” White told the Pat McAfee Show. “But you can’t just want to do a fun fight and not fight the interim champion, the guy who’s next.

Jon Jones reacts after his victory over Cyril Gane at UFC 285

Jon Jones reacts after his victory over Cyril Gane at UFC 285 (AP)

“If Jon Jones retired on Saturday, Tom Aspinall will be the heavyweight champion. Opportunities came to Jones when he was 23, the youngest heavyweight champion ever.

“Now sitting where he is, it’s his obligation to give it to the younger guy and give him that opportunity. But if he beats Tom Aspinall, then yes, I’d take the Alex Pereira fight.”

Jones will defend the heavyweight title against former champion Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16, a year after the fight fell through.

Jones, 37, suffered a pectoral injury two weeks before UFC 295, which led to his fight with Miocic, 42, being postponed. Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich stepped in, with the Brit knocking out the Russian in the first round to win the interim title.

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Wigan's Tom Aspinall holds the interim UFC heavyweight title

Wigan’s Tom Aspinall holds the interim UFC heavyweight title (Getty Images)

Aspinall, 31, has since retained that belt with a knockout of Curtis Blaydes in July and he hopes to face the winner of Jones vs Miocic. However, Jones has teased that he could retire after UFC 309, and many fans expect Miocic to do the same.

“(If) one guy wants to retire, one guy wants to continue, both guys want to retire, whatever — we’ve got all the bases covered,” Aspinall told Uncrowned on Monday (October 14).

“Yeah, it’s official. I mean, Dana (White, UFC president) announced it a while ago now, but I didn’t actually hear anything from the UFC. But now we’ve actually talked, everything’s going well. We’re here to agree on what we know will happen in the future.

“We have plans, we have future battle plans, everything is right there. It’s going to be a good few years, let me tell you. Big plans, big, big, massive plans. I can’t lay it out for you!”