NEW YORK – Jon Jones might declare Tom Aspinall lacks notoriety, however UFC CEO Dana White clearly thinks in any other case.
After Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) dispatched of Stipe Miocic (20-5 MMA, 14-5 UFC) by third-round TKO on Saturday at UFC 309 to defend the heavyweight championship, White has a powerful craving to see a unification bout with interim titleholder Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC), who has been campaigning laborious to get a struggle with “Bones.”
Sadly for Aspinall, although, Jones thinks he’s “an asshole” who’s “annoying.” Jones mentioned each earlier than and after UFC 309 that he has no real interest in combating Aspinall and would quite vacate the belt than give the Brit a possibility to compete in opposition to him.
The one factor that will open the door in Jones’ thoughts is that if the UFC supplied him “f*ck you cash,” however didn’t share a selected quantity. White mentioned Jones will probably be correctly compensated, and displayed solely confidence a deal will get accomplished. And if it does, White thinks it is going to be an all-time occasion.
“It could be the most important heavyweight struggle in UFC historical past, by a protracted shot,” White instructed MMA Junkie and different reporters on the UFC 309 post-fight press convention. “It’s going to be the most important heavyweight struggle ever. And it’ll in all probability be the most important struggle we’ve ever accomplished.”
By which metric White defines for the “largest struggle” is unclear. He might be referring to stay gate, pay-per-view gross sales, normal world curiosity or one other variable, however the assurance behind his feedback was encouraging to these pining to see the struggle.
Offshore opening odds for a possible Jones vs. Aspinall struggle have Jones as a slight betting underdog. If that held, it could be the primary time Jones could be an underdog in a struggle since early 2009. He was an underdog in his first two UFC fights in opposition to Andre Gusmao and Stephan Bonnar, however by no means has been lower than roughly no less than a 2-1 favourite in each struggle since then.
White mentioned he loves Jones being pitted ready of doubt. White has been Jones’ sternest supporter in recent times, touting him because the world’s prime pound-for-pound fighter and finest fight sports activities athlete in historical past.
The UFC boss was impressed with what he noticed from Jones in opposition to Miocic, and White is extremely intrigued about how Jones would method a struggle with Aspinall.
“He’s bought the very best struggle IQ – he’s like f*cking Elon Musk within the octagon,” White mentioned. “This man is sensible in there, and the issues he pulls off (are superb). … I don’t know what he’ll do with Aspinall.”
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