Since winning the interim heavyweight title last month, Tom Aspinall has called for currently injured heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones to be stripped of his belt while he recovers, and he’s now drawn a response from the star.
“I’ve faced the absolute toughest competition this world had to offer for 15 years now,” Jones wrote on X. “During camp for a title defense I sustained a major injury that required surgery for the first time in my career. Now I have newcomers requesting I get my championship stripped. Zero wins over legends, zero title defenses and already thinking you can call the shots to Dana, that’s hilarious.
“In my 15 year career I have seen so many guys who are supposed to be the next big thing. There’s ever only been one Jon Jones, never forget that.”
In time-honored fashion this would be the moment Aspinall issued a fiery response to keep the feud going and get more people talking about it, but instead the mild-mannered interim champ just conceded that Jones had a point.
“You’re right. Sorry Jon,” Aspinall replied.
Of course there may have been a heavy dose of sarcasm in there, and within the last week Aspinall had already addressed criticism from fans about his desire to see Jones stripped of the title so that he can fight Stipe Miocic for the vacant belt.
“You see a lot of online trolls, but mate – I’m just trying to get my dream fight,” Aspinall told Michael Bisping. “Give me a break. I’m trying to fight one of the legends. That’s all.
“I’ll fight everyone. I’ve got another 10 years in this sport before it’s over, and I’m going to fight these other guys. I would love to get a crack at these two guys before they retire just to get it on my resume. I’m not getting beyond myself or anything like that. I just want a crack at the guys I’ve been watching for the last 10 years. I’m a massive fan of the sport and I think it would be brilliant. That’s all. I’m not out there hating on anybody. I respect these guys.”
