Jon Jones has booked his next gig and it’s not a fight with Tom Aspinall.
The UFC heavyweight champion hasn’t fought since defending his belt by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November.
Since then, talks have been taking place about a unification fight with interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.
Dana White has 100 percent guaranteed the fight will happen in 2025, but delays in announcing the matchup have left fans wondering if Jon Jones will forgo a fight with the English knockout artist.
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Jon Jones vs Nate Diaz confirmed
On Friday it was revealed that UFC fan favorite Nate Diaz will be Jon Jones’ next opponent.
Of course, the lightweight and welterweight MMA legend won’t be actually fighting ‘Bones’.
Instead, they’ll square off as opposing coaches on a TV show called ‘ALF Reality’, which is essentially Russia’s answer to ‘The Ultimate Fighter’.
As news of Jones vs Diaz began circulating on social media, fans accused the greatest fighter in MMA history of ducking Aspinall.
“Bro, you have a belt to defend,” one fan said. While another added: “Jon doing everything but fighting Aspinall.”
“Anything but fighting Aspinall. Anybody else would be stripped by now,” a third X user wrote.
“Wait Jon will fight Nate but not Aspinall??? Man, Dana White, fire this f—— motherf—–,” someone else fumed.
“Ok, I definitely wasn’t expecting this on the TL,” a fifth fan commented.
“It’s official: Jon Jones has ducked Tom Aspinall,” this fan claimed.
Dana White’s latest Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall update
Last month, Dana White watched from the front row as Ian Garry beat Carlos Prates in the UFC Kansas City main event.
Post-fight, the UFC CEO fielded questions from assembled media, who were keen to get the lowdown on Jones vs Aspinall amid mixed reports about the eagerly anticipated champion vs champion fight.
“Everything you hear is bulls— until we say it,” White insisted.
“I’ve said it many times, that’s the fight we want to make this year.
“Still super confident [it happens].”