The reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has not entered the octagon for a unification bout with interim champion Tom Aspinall, despite mounting calls from fans and fighters alike. The delay has become a focal point in the MMA world, with speculation centering on Jones’s financial demands and the UFC’s willingness to meet them.
Jon Jones Not Fighting the Interim Champ
Jones has not fought since defending his title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November 2024. Since then, he has been in negotiations for a unification fight with Aspinall, who won the interim belt by defeating Sergei Pavlovich in November 2023 and has since defended it against Curtis Blaydes.