Jon Jones has seemingly endorsed a petition seeking to strip him of the UFC heavyweight title by jokingly wishing it reached 200,000 signatures. However, according to insights from veteran UFC commentator Jon Anik, Jones likely remains largely indifferent to these demands to relinquish his belt.
Anik`s comments came during the UFC 316 pre-fight press conference when he was questioned about the growing petition, fueled by the prolonged delay in confirming a fight between Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall. Aspinall himself recently stirred the pot by facetiously congratulating Jones on retiring and declaring himself the undisputed champion – neither of which is official.
Despite the uncertainty, Jones retains the heavyweight title and has frequently hinted at his impending return. This consistency leads Anik to believe that the fighter widely regarded as the greatest of all time isn`t concerned about an online petition.
“I believe a fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall carries more weight if both hold champion status,” Anik stated. “I`m optimistic about them fighting in Las Vegas around December, though I have no concrete details.”
He added, “Honestly, I`m not sure Jon Jones is bothered if they strip him of the heavyweight championship. He`ll likely still fight Tom, and it will still be a highly lucrative event.”
Anik`s perspective is difficult to dispute, particularly given Jones`s consistent pattern of dismissing suggestions that he should be stripped of his title.
Furthermore, Jones retaining the belt while potentially facing interim champion Aspinall provides the UFC with a straightforward promotional narrative to build what could become the most significant fight in heavyweight division history.
Regarding scheduling, Jones recently hinted at being bound by secrecy regarding the UFC`s plans for his fight with Aspinall. Meanwhile, the British interim champion has repeatedly expressed his hope for a timely announcement concerning his next steps.
Given that the UFC is already scheduling events into August and September, a matchup between Jones and Aspinall appears improbable before the latter part of the year. Nevertheless, numerous potential dates and locations remain.
As Anik pointed out, the UFC traditionally concludes its year with a major event in Las Vegas. November often features a significant pay-per-view card at Madison Square Garden in New York, the same venue where Jones defeated former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic last year.
The precise date for the fight is still unknown, although UFC CEO Dana White has repeatedly stated his plan is to deliver the Jones vs. Aspinall bout sometime in 2025.
