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UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones clarified his future status with the company with comments made over the weekend. But either Jones or UFC president Dana White is going to have to budge in order for either one of them to get their way.
Off the back of an impressive TKO victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Jones says that he’s in talks with the company to continue fighting in 2025. But if he does return to the octagon in 2025, it sounds like it will be on his terms, notthe company’s.
“So right now, the UFC and I, we’re in negotiations,” Jones told The Schmo. “We’re in talks to see what happens next. I’m back in the gym, I’m training, I feel really great. The team’s support, they’re right behind me, and we’ll just be ready for whatever opportunity comes our way.
“There is [a dollar amount in mind], but I’m not going to discuss that publicly. We’ll just have to wait and see. … I will be competing in 2025, more than likely.”
There’s just one major problem. Jones is reportedly targeting a super fight with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. But the UFC, led by White, is insisting that he defend his heavyweight crown against interim champ Tom Aspinall.
“If I’m being completely honest, I feel like Tom’s been such an a–hat that I don’t want to do business with him,” Jones said at UFC 309 media day “His fans have been so annoying. Obviously, you don’t get this far in a career being affected by fans and whatnot. But he’s just an a–hole.”
However, White later told Jim Rome that “If Jon Jones wants to fight again after Saturday night, he will fight Tom Aspinall.”
There doesn’t seem to be much middle ground between those statements. It appears somebody is going to have to concede, and it’s not likely to be Jones.