Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC
UFC president Dana White made it clear that he is hoping to schedule a highly-anticipated battle between heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall subsequent yr.
Throughout an look on ESPN’s First Take on Monday, White was requested by Stephen A. Smith about what battle he most needs to see in 2025, and he named the heavyweight title unification bout.
“So I get requested this yearly, and this yr it might be Aspinall-Jones,” White mentioned across the 3:05 mark. “That is the most important battle in heavyweight historical past, and on the finish of the day, what my job is, is to present the followers what they need, and that is what the followers need.”
White’s feedback echo his stance from his post-fight press convention this previous weekend when he said, “Yeah, I will say 100% [guaranteed]” of the potential for Jones and Aspinall dealing with one another subsequent yr.
Followers have been clamoring for Jones to face Aspinall ever since Jones suffered a torn labrum that stored him out of the Octagon for over a yr. Throughout that point, Aspinall was topped interim champion and defended his belt as soon as. Jones made his long-awaited return final month in the principle occasion of UFC 309 and defeated former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic by third-round TKO to retain his title.
Nevertheless, Jones has lengthy resisted the potential for combating Aspinall, claiming that the 31-year-old is not deserving of a battle towards him.
Jonny Meat @JonnyBones
I do know it is arduous for lots of you guys to know,, however primarily based on his résumé as we speak, combating and beating him would change nothing about my legacy. I might actually be in the identical place I’m now. The Goat https://t.co/9vNS0Ga4gd
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Nonetheless, it feels like White is motivated to make the battle occur, so there’s an opportunity that he makes Jones a proposal that he cannot refuse to step within the Octagon towards Aspinall.