Dana White’s relationship with Jon Jones has been a rollercoaster ride for years. The UFC CEO and the heavyweight champ have had their fair share of ups and downs. Now, it seems they’re at another crossroads.
Jones recently dropped a bombshell as he declared UFC 309 would “more than likely” be his final fight. White, who had been praising ‘Bones’ every chance he got, was surprisingly quiet about this. He was asked to comment on Jones’ retirement announcement at the recent DWCS post-fight press conference, and his response was somewhat cryptic.
“Why speak to him after this event? You’ve got to figure out what’s going to happen in this fight. See how this fight plays out, and then we’ll go from there.”
But this isn’t just any fighter we are talking about. It’s Jon Jones, the man many consider the GOAT of MMA. His retirement would be a seismic shift in the UFC landscape. Dana White’s non-response speaks volumes. It’s like he’s stuck between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, he’s got a superstar potentially walking away. On the other, he’s got a massive fight to promote.
Meanwhile, poor Tom Aspinall is caught in the middle of this drama. He has been named the backup fighter for UFC 309. But his dream of fighting Jones for the title will probably not come true. But anything can happen in these two months, and Aspinall would be lurking, waiting for his opportunity.
Dana White Was Confident That Jon Jones Would Face Tom Aspinall After Stipe Miocic
Jones, the reigning heavyweight champ, is set to face Miocic at UFC 309. The fight has been brewing way longer than it should have, and White was already talking about what came next. The UFC CEO’s recent declaration had set the expectations high among fight fans.
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White talked to Kevin Iole about Jon Jones’s return and his future in the UFC. He was confident that ‘Bones’ would be more than willing to face the rising star Aspinall after UFC 309.
“What I’m saying about Jon Jones is undebatable… And if he beats Stipe, and he comes out and fights Tom Aspinall and beats him – it’s already undeniable… I would be shocked if he didn’t want to test himself against Aspinall,” said White.
But now, that proclamation from Dana White holds no ground as Jones announced that UFC 309 would be his farewell to the sport. But in the world of UFC, ‘never say never’ is the mantra. Stipe could get injured, and seeing now that Aspinall is the backup fighter, fans will get to witness the much-talked-about fight between these two giants.
Also Read: Dana White Reveals The Real Reason For His Backing Of Jon Jones As The Best Pound For Pound Fighter
