Jon Jones points out "irony" in Tom Aspinall's reasoning for avoiding clash with Curtis Blaydes
Tom Aspinall will be defending the UFC interim heavyweight championship at UFC 304 and Jon Jones will be keeping a close eye on the matchup from the sidelines. As the undisputed 265-pound champion, Jones believes Aspinall is being put in his position as the defending titleholder.
In previewing his upcoming fight with Curtis Blaydes, Aspinall called the fight a "lose-lose fight" due to 'Razor' being a tough matchup for him but lacking enough popularity to make the potential reward worth the risk. Jones responded to the quote, calling the situation "ironic."
Jones quote-tweeted his response:
"Oh the irony."
'Bones' has always been adamant in crediting Aspinall as an elite fighter but has been defending his decision to face 41-year-old Stipe Miocic instead of the interim champion.
Jones calling the situation "ironic" references an old tweet in which he claimed Aspinall "only matters in the UK," alluding to his belief that a hypothetical win over the 14-3 fighter would not boost his stock much.
Is Jon Jones booked to fight Stipe Miocic?
Since beating Ciryl Gane to win the UFC heavyweight title at UFC 285, Jon Jones has yet to return to the Octagon and make a first title defense. Jones was scheduled to return against Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 but withdrew from the fight with a pectoral injury, opening the door for Tom Aspinall to win the interim belt on short notice.
Instead of facing Miocic, Aspinall knocked out Sergei Pavlovich in the co-main event of UFC 295. Despite the Brit becoming the interim champion, Jones is expected to re-book his fight with Miocic in late 2024.
Many reports have sparked rumors that the veterans will be paired in another attempt to headline a Madison Square Garden pay-per-view, but no official announcement has been made by the UFC.
March 2024 saw the one-year anniversary since Jon Jones last competed in the UFC while also marking three years since Miocic last fought.