UFC HEAVYWEIGHT champ Jon Jones has all but confirmed his imminent retirement from MMA and ended Tom Aspinall’s hopes of ever facing him.
Aspinall, 31, has been gunning for a unification fight with Jones since sensationally claiming the interim title at Madison Square Garden last November.
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The UFC, however, have been steadfast in their refusal to axe Jones’ postponed bout with former titleholder Stipe Miocic, which has been rescheduled for November 16.
But Jones has seemingly ended fans’ – and Aspinall’s – hopes of a unification bout materialising by revealing he plans to place his gloves on the Octagon canvas after his MSG melee with Miocic.
The UFC Hall of Famer told Clocked N’ Loaded: “This is gonna be the last time [I fight].
“The last time, more than likely.”
Jones’ apparent pre-fight confirmation of his retirement has seen Dana White’s “guarantee” of a fight with Aspinall materalising go up in smoke.
Speaking after a recent episode of Dana White‘s Contenders Series, the 55-year-old said: “So Jon is a very unique individual to deal with.
“Jon Jones will fight everybody.
“Jon Jones was absolutely — he wanted Francis [Ngannou]! You saw what happened with Ciryl Gane.
“He will tell you like he told us that he would do the same thing to Francis Ngannou. He wanted that fight so bad.
“And for anybody who thinks — I know the whole internet, ‘Oh Jon Jones!’ that I’m up Jon Jones’s a, these are f***ing facts. Facts.
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“And since everybody has been such d*****bag about this, I’m coming out with a nice little punch in the face for all you f***s that think Jon Jones isn’t the greatest of all time.
“Dislike him, whatever your beef is with Jon Jones, knock yourself out.
“There’s no way in hell that Jon Jones doesn’t want to fight Aspinall. That I guarantee you.”
Stepping inside the octagon with Jones would be a dream come true for Aspinall, although the Brit insists he’ll be more than content with his career if the fight never comes to fruition.
The Wigan warrior told SunSport: “Ultimately, I want to be the heavyweight champion of the world It doesn’t really matter about Jon Jones.
“It’d be nice, it’d be a lovely cherry on the cake to have the scalp and get that experience.
“I’m a massive Jon Jones fan, first and foremost. It would just be awesome to experience that with Jon.
“But as Jon said, Jon said, ‘Don’t let me hold you back.’
“And when he said that, I thought, ‘You know what, he’s right.’ I’m not letting Jon hold me back.
“He’s doing his thing, I’m doing my thing. If we cross paths, I’ll try my best to take him out.”