UFC President Dana White has responded to skeptics who believe the Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall fight will not take place.
A unification fight for the heavyweight title, pitting the undisputed champion against the interim champion, is highly desired by MMA enthusiasts for 2025.
Discussions for this major fight began after Jon Jones defended his title with a third-round TKO victory over Stipe Miocic last November.
However, concerns about the fight’s realization have been increasing over time.
But White addressed these doubts during a recent Instagram Live session, where he shared several fight announcements.
“Yes, it will happen,” he stated in response to a fan’s comment about the Jones vs Aspinall fight not happening. “It’s coming. Relax.”
White’s firm statement that the fight is still planned comes after he mentioned that the UFC might strip Jones of his title if negotiations extend into the summer.
When asked about potentially stripping Jones of the belt, White told The MacLife: “One hundred percent.”
“If we can’t finalize the fight, we will move forward and arrange another fight.”
“Just recently, I was working with my team until 6 AM to make this happen.”
“We are currently working on many things. There are a lot of positive developments.”
Jones, 37, is reportedly asking for a significant sum to defend his title against Aspinall.
White acknowledged that it is now up to the UFC to meet Jones’ demands and deliver what he has described as potentially the “biggest fight” in UFC history.
“There’s no question,” the 55-year-old promoter said. “This is the biggest fight we can organize.”
“I know fans like to tease Jon, but Jon Jones is not afraid of anyone, and he will fight anyone.”
“It’s now just a matter of finalizing the fight. That’s our responsibility.”
Aspinall secured the interim heavyweight title in November 2023 with a rapid 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in Madison Square Garden.
He defended the title in July with another quick victory, a 60-second defeat of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester.
