Aspinall: I’m Undisputed – Jones is Retired | UFC Heavyweight
- Tom Aspinall has declared himself the "undisputed heavyweight champion of the world," asserting that Jon Jones is retired.
- Aspinall, the interim champ, based his bold statement on his belief that Jones is enjoying retirement.
- Jones, who has held the title for more than 820 days, is approaching Cain VelasquezS record of 896 days for the longest heavyweight title reign.Jones secured the title...
Tom Aspinall Claims Undisputed Heavyweight Title Amid Jon Jones Retirement Talk
Tom Aspinall has declared himself the “undisputed heavyweight champion of the world,” asserting that Jon Jones is retired. This claim adds fuel to the fire as fans await news regarding a potential showdown between the two fighters in the UFC heavyweight division.
Aspinall, the interim champ, based his bold statement on his belief that Jones is enjoying retirement. He suggested observers check Jones’ social media to confirm the champion is “living his best life.”
Jones, who has held the title for more than 820 days, is approaching Cain VelasquezS record of 896 days for the longest heavyweight title reign.Jones secured the title in March 2023 after Francis Ngannou’s departure and defended it once against Stipe Miocic in November 2024.
Aspinall became interim champion in November 2023 and defended the title in July 2024. He now holds the record for the longest-reigning interim champion in UFC history at 570 days.
Despite Aspinall’s claims, Jones recently alluded to ongoing negotiations. Speaking at a seminar in Thailand, where he is filming a reality show, Jones stated that the UFC, Aspinall, and himself “all got a lot of stuff happening behind the scenes.” He added that he and Aspinall have agreed to wait for the UFC to make their announcements, preventing him from discussing the matter further.
However, Aspinall seems to have moved on from the idea of fighting Jones, focusing instead on actively defending the undisputed heavyweight championship. He expressed a desire to fight multiple contenders and bring excitement back to the division.
“I’m not looking to fight Jon Jones,” Aspinall said. “I’m looking to fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship… I want to fight everybody, and I want to fight as much as possible, get some excitement back in this division. let’s not talk about Jon Jones anymore… I’m the active guy, I’m going to fight somebody, and that’s going to be announced pretty soon.”
What’s next
The UFC heavyweight division faces uncertainty as Aspinall seeks active fights and Jones’s status remains unclear. An declaration regarding Aspinall’s next opponent is expected soon, potentially setting the stage for a dynamic period in the division.