Aspinall explains pursuit of Jones

Tom Aspinall has explained that his long-running effort to secure a fight with Jon Jones was not, in his view, a personal pursuit of the former heavyweight champion. The UFC heavyweight champion said his focus was on taking the title from Jones and proving himself against the strongest available opponent. Speaking on the Great Company with Jamie Laing podcast, Aspinall addressed the perception that he had been relentlessly chasing Jones as an individual, saying fans had misunderstood the motivation behind his push for the proposed heavyweight matchup.

Aspinall said the distinction matters because the championship was central to what he wanted at the time. He had been in contention for a Jones fight after winning the interim heavyweight title against Sergei Pavlovich in 2023, then defended that interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in 2024. Jones later retired from MMA in 2025, after which Aspinall was elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion. The fight never came together, leaving Aspinall to reflect on a matchup he said he wanted for sporting and championship reasons rather than as a campaign directed at Jones personally.

Aspinall says title was the driving force

Aspinall described his previous approach in direct terms when discussing why he had pushed for the contest. “At the time, I was just desperately trying to get the fight because I wanted to get the title off him,” Aspinall said. “I think a lot of people kind of got it confused why I wanted to… I was never going after Jon Jones. I was going after the title. Simple as that.” The Salford-born fighter said he wanted recognition as the best in the world, but was not given the opportunity to meet Jones in the octagon. He added that he would have welcomed the chance to fight one of the sport’s leading names, while accepting that the matchup now appears unlikely. “I wanted to be the best in the world and I wasn’t given the chance to fight Jon Jones,” Aspinall said. “I would have loved to have fought one of the best, but I wasn’t given the chance. And I don’t think it’ll ever happen now. So, it is what it is.”

Jones had won the heavyweight title with a first-round victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in 2023. He then defended the championship against Stipe Miocic in 2024, his only heavyweight title defense, before deciding not to pursue the Aspinall fight and retiring in 2025. That sequence meant Aspinall’s interim championship run did not lead to the unification bout he had sought. His comments frame the missed fight as a consequence of circumstances around the heavyweight title rather than an unresolved personal issue with Jones. Aspinall’s position is that the belt and the chance to challenge an elite opponent were linked, which is why he continued to call for the bout.

A test against the best still appealed

While Aspinall stressed that the title was his main target, he also made clear that Jones’ standing as a fighter was a major part of the attraction. He called Jones “an absolute beast” and said that was precisely why he wanted the fight. For Aspinall, seeking out a difficult opponent was consistent with his aim of facing the best athletes available. He also acknowledged the risk in pursuing a fight with a competitor many people regard as the best ever. “Listen, he could absolutely kick my a–, but at least I tried,” Aspinall said. The comment underlined that his interest was not based on a prediction about the outcome. Instead, he said he wanted to be the best in the world and was not given the chance to fight Jones. Aspinall has not fought in 2026. His most recent octagon appearance ended in a no contest after an accidental eye poke from Gane during Aspinall’s heavyweight title defense at UFC 321 in 2025. With Jones retired, Aspinall said he does not believe their long-discussed fight will happen.

• Aspinall said he pursued Jones because he wanted to take the heavyweight title and become the best in the world.
• Aspinall also said Jones was a compelling opponent because he wanted to compete against the best, even while accepting the danger of that challenge.

Aspinall’s explanation places his pursuit of Jones in the context of championship ambition and competitive standards. He said fans had confused a push for the heavyweight title and a desire to face the best with a personal chase of Jones. The proposed fight remains one that did not materialize: Jones retired in 2025, and Aspinall was elevated to undisputed champion. Even so, Aspinall said he would have welcomed the opportunity to test himself against Jones, regardless of the possible result.