UFC Confirms Jon Jones-Tom Aspinall Heavyweight Title Fight

The UFC heavyweight title unification fight between Jon Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall remains unresolved despite Jones reportedly accepting the deal to fight Aspinall. UFC President Dana White has confirmed that Jones agreed to the bout and emphasized that Aspinall is the rightful contender, dismissing alternative matchups such as a fight with Francis Ngannou. White acknowledged Jones' wavering commitment and hinted that the fight's finalization depends heavily on Jones' willingness to compete, noting the UFC's efforts to encourage him to fight. Meanwhile, Aspinall has expressed frustration over the prolonged negotiations and delay but teased that significant developments are forthcoming. The MMA community has reacted strongly to the delay, with a petition gathering over 180,000 signatures demanding Jones be stripped of his title, though White dismissed this as irrelevant to the negotiations. Both White and journalist Ariel Helwani have criticized Jones for holding up the heavyweight division, suggesting the situation continues to disappoint fans awaiting the match.