Tom Aspinall opens as betting favorite over Jon Jones after UFC 309

On Saturday night, Jon Jones successfully defended his UFC heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 309 with a third-round knockout of former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. In an ideal world, that win would set up a title unification match between Jones and interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Judging by Jones’ comments after his KO win, we don’t live in the ideal world.

Not long after he stopped Miocic with a spinning back kick to the body, Jones sat in the belly of Madison Square Garden and talked about his plans for the future and how they probably won’t include Tom Aspinall.

UFC 309: Jon Jones on a title unification bout with Tom Aspinall

“I’m not really worried about the Tom fight. I’m worried about the (UFC light heavyweight champion Alex) Pereira fight,” Jones said at the tournament UFC 309 post-fight press conference. “That’s what I want to do. I think if the UFC wants me back, I think that’s the fight they want to make. I’ve been very clear about my intentions. That’s it , I will.

“I just feel like somebody would understand at this point. I’ll retire the heavyweight belt if I have to. … Tom can get the heavyweight championship. I don’t really care.”

“I just don’t like him, and at the end of the day, if I give him the opportunity to fight me, I want to be compensated that way,” Jones added. “I want your money. Honestly. It is what it is. It is what it is. My life is perfect without him. I don’t need him at all and he needs me and it’s a good place to be in a negotiation.”

UFC 309: Dana White on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

While Jones seems fixated on booking a matchup with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at heavyweight, UFC CEO Dana White feels the fight doesn’t make sense, especially after what he saw in the UFC 309 main event.

“It (Jones vs. Aspinall) would be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history by a long shot,” White said on UFC 309 post-fight press conference. “It’s going to be the biggest heavyweight fight ever. And it’s probably going to be the biggest fight we’ve ever had.”

“Jon is too big … (he’s a) great wrestler. Did you see how he took Stipe down in the first round? I like Alex Pereira. It just doesn’t make sense to make that fight,” White added.

“If they both want it bad enough and they both go after me or something, I might do it, but Alex Pereira is just killing it. Look at his age and what he’s doing right now, what’s the reason for that. to go up and fight with a guy that much bigger?

“I want Pereira to stay where he is and do what he does and drive on the street.

“But again, if they go crazy on me and they want to do what am I going to do? They’re grown-ass men and I’m sure the fans will see that.”

UFC 309: Tom Aspinall on Possible Jon Jones Fight

After UFC 309, Aspinall talked about the possibility of a title unification fight with Jones.

“Well, when Jon Jones gave his speech, I looked directly at the UFC brass, Dana and Hunter (Campbell),” Aspinall said on the UFC 309 post-fight show.

“They both turned to me at the same time and pointed at me and winked. At the same time. So to me that says something big is in the pipeline.

“This is the biggest fight in the UFC. It’s massive. This is potentially one of the biggest fights in MMA right now. If that doesn’t interest Jon Jones, then I don’t know what else we can do. Everybody knows that here is the fight to make.

“This is the fight that the people want. This is the fight that the UFC wants. This is the fight that the fans want. This is the fight that needs to happen now.”

Jones vs. Aspinall opening odds

With the fight between Jones and Aspinall a possibility, BetOnline issued early odds for the potential title clash. Aspinall opened as a -135 betting favorite over Jones, who was listed as a +115 betting underdog.

UFC 309: Reaction to Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

I wrote the following after Jones defeated Miocic at UFC 309.

Jon Jones successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 with no problems. The defending champion had no trouble submitting Miocic. Jones was especially effective going to the body, which is how he eventually ended the fight.

Jones looked good to win, but there are still questions he needs to answer, the biggest of which is what happens when he meets interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

Reaction to Tom Aspinall’s defense of the interim heavyweight title

I offered the following after Aspinall defended the interim heavyweight crown with a 60-second knockout of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July. Aspinall won the interim belt in November 2023 with a 69-second KO of Sergei Pavlovich.

The question facing Tom Aspinall remains unanswered. That question is what happens if Aspinall is forced to fight past the second round. Well, Aspinall dispatched Curtis Blaydes with a flurry of ground strikes just 60 seconds into the co-main event of UFC 304.

The next question facing Aspinall, UFC, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic is what happens after UFC heavyweight champion Jones faces Miocic? Will there be a title unification match or will the winner of the match retire?

Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall Heavyweight title reigns

Jones won the UFC’s vacant UFC heavyweight title in March 2023 with a submission victory over Ciryl Gane. The UFC originally booked Jones vs. Miocic at UFC 295, but a torn pectoral muscle sidelined Jones from November 2023. Jones’ first title defense came against Miocic at UFC 309. He has a career record of 28-1-0-1.

Aspinall got his opportunity at the interim title in a short-lived scrap at UFC 205. He knocked out Pavlovich to claim that title. With Jones out of action and a title unification bout not booked, Aspinall defended the interim crown against Blaydes. Aspinall has not fought since that win. He has a career record of 15-3.

With the state of the UFC heavyweight division, a unification bout between Jones and Aspinall makes sense. If that fight cannot be booked, the UFC must strip Jones of the title and make Aspinall the champion.