Dana White has confirmed that the UFC intends to put on a heavyweight title clash between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic at some stage this summer, but what’s less clear is what will happen after that.
As things stand the 36-year-old Jones has hinted that there’s a real possibility he could retire after that fight, while the 41-year-old Miocic appears to have little interest in fighting anyone other than the champ.
However, though he doesn’t get a say on when a fighter decides to hang up his gloves, White believes that the winner of the Jones vs. Miocic title clash owes current interim champ Tom Aspinall a fight.
“Yes, this summer it should happen,” White told Maxx Crosby regarding the long-awaited Jones vs. Miocic showdown. “It’s interesting [on the retirement aspect]. I think it depends on who wins. I mean, either guy that wins, how do you not fight Aspinall?
“I think there’s a — it’s almost like a courtesy, if you will. If you’re looked at as one of the G.O.A.T.s, whoever wins this fight, it’s almost like a courtesy thing to give that guy the shot. Give him an opportunity to win or you win and it just absolutely cements… nobody can poke holes in [the legacy] that nobody can say anything about it.”
