- Tom Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich to become interim champion
- Jon Jones remains the heavyweight king despite a long-term injury
- The haters will never forgive the tarnished Conor Benn, but we'll just have to see why this is a fight… The hook
Jon Jones has responded to Tom Aspinall's 'hilarious' claims that he would be stripped of his UFC heavyweight title.
'Bones' is out for the long haul after tearing his pectoral tendon from the bone in training, with Aspinall knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 to take the interim belt.
Rather than delaying the split for much of 2024, Aspinall believes Jones should be stripped and then immediately given a title shot when he's fit again.
“I think Jon Jones should be stripped of the title, honestly, because that's what everyone else does when they get injured like that,” Aspinall said Michael Bisping.
'I don't understand why he still has it. I do not understand that. I think I have to be the real champion now.
Tom Aspinall (right) believes Jon Jones should be stripped of the UFC heavyweight title
Jones was scheduled to perform at UFC 295 but had to withdraw with a nasty injury
“It's hard to say without sounding rude, but who else gets asked about Jon Jones and Stipe? Why do we get this old fashioned fight and they have to live by their own rules? What is a legacy fight, a retirement fight for a title?
“I want to fight Stipe and then Jon Jones. I think all that other stuff is nonsense. Stop protecting him now. Stop protecting your son Jon Jones at the top. If he's hurt, get out of the way and I'll fight Stipe.”
But the 36-year-old American has now fired back, pointing to his impeccable CV.
He wrote: “For fifteen years now I have been facing some of the absolute toughest competition this world has to offer.
'During the camp for the title defense, I suffered a serious injury for the first time in my career that required surgery. Now I have newcomers asking to have my championship stripped.
“Zero wins over legends, zero title defenses and already thinking you can take the lead with Dana (White), that's hilarious.”
The answer was short and sweet from Aspinall, with more than a hint of sarcasm.
'You're right. Sorry Jon,” he posted.
British star Aspinall is not content to sit on the sidelines and wait for Jones to return
Aspinall was not mentioned by name in Jones' message, but was clearly the intended recipient.
White, meanwhile, remains adamant that the previously scheduled fight between Jones and Miocic must happen.
When asked about the calls to strip Jones, he replied, “The Stipe fight has to happen. You know, both of those guys deserve it.
“Jon – you have the greatest mixed martial artist of all time versus the greatest heavyweight of all time. And they paid their dues, they did it. These two want to fight each other. It is going to happen.'
When asked about the calls to strip Jones, he replied, “The Stipe fight has to happen. You know, both of those guys deserve it.
“Jon – you have the greatest mixed martial artist of all time versus the greatest heavyweight of all time. And they paid their dues, they did it. These two want to fight each other. It is going to happen.'