Chael Sonnen makes feelings known on Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall situation: "You can't have both"
Chael Sonnen questioned why the UFC hasn't stripped Tom Aspinall of the interim heavyweight title.
In late 2023, Jon Jones pulled out of his first heavyweight title defense due to a torn pectoral muscle. As a result, the promotion replaced the UFC 295 fight with an interim heavyweight title matchup between Sergei Pavlovich and Aspinall.
Aspinall defeated Pavlovich by first-round knockout and has since defended his interim strap against Curtis Blaydes. Meanwhile, Jones returned from injury and defended his heavyweight world title against Stipe Miocic.
Sonnen recently posted a video on Instagram questioning why the interim title hasn't been removed since Jones' return:
"Tom Aspinall not being stripped, I'm the only one talking about it. You guys as the audience have made it very clear you don't care. You can't have both. Those aren't Chael's rules, that's linguistics rules. You cannot have an undisputed champion in the presence of an interim champion."
Jon Jones has always considered himself a smart businessman in the fight game. The UFC heavyweight champion has teased his retirement at times to pursue a better deal, which Chael Sonnen believes could be another reason for Tom Aspinall's interim title:
"If Tom is the interim champion, what I ask you is Jon? There actually is a reasonable answer, which is Jon and Stipe were signed. There was an injury. I can't help but feel maybe that isn't the only reason. The UFC does not like vacant titles, so if you can't come to terms with Jon, no problem, cause we've already got our guy, and we elevate that to undisputed."
Watch Chael Sonnen's Instagram video below:
Chael Sonnen claims UFC could use interim title against Jon Jones in negotiations
Following his win against Stipe Miocic, Jon Jones provided minimal details about what's next for his fighting career. Jones wants to face UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira in a super-fight, while Dana White and the promotion plan to match him up against Tom Aspinall in a unification bout.
During his Instagram video, Chael Sonnen had this to say about how the UFC:
"I get where that would have been the plan all along and that plan would have even been enacted had Jon not come back. The moment he came back, the interim doesn't exist except in this case it does. Or does it take a little bit of power away from Jon?"