On December 13, 2024, interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall spoke candidly in an interview with Piers Morgan, comparing his fighting career to that of Jon Jones. Aspinall acknowledged without ego that Jones holds a far more impressive mixed martial arts record, demonstrating his respect for Jones’ longstanding accomplishments in the sport.
This discussion came after Jon Jones mentioned their contrasting resumes as a reason for dismissing Aspinall as a worthy opponent, a stance that did not affect Aspinall’s confidence. While Aspinall never belittled Jones’ achievements, he remained firm in his belief that he could defeat Jones in competition.
“I agree with a lot of what Jon says. When you put the résumés next to each other, his résumé is far superior to mine. The risk/reward for both of us, his risk is he has everything to lose. He’s amazing at everything.”
During the interview, when asked if he considered himself more skilled than Jones in any specific MMA aspect, Aspinall rejected the idea but stressed his own physical advantages that make him a formidable challenger.
“No, but I’m way younger and way more athletic and way bigger. I possess a power that he’s never seen before or even come close to, but like I said, I completely agree with everything that he says in terms of résumé. But it’s not about Jon’s résumé. It’s about who’s the best in the world right now, and I think it’s me.”
The Elusive Fight and Aspinall’s Rise to Undisputed Champion
Throughout much of 2024, Aspinall sought a fight with Jon Jones, hoping to unify the heavyweight title. Despite public affirmations from UFC President Dana White that the matchup was planned, the bout never materialized. Instead, Jones surprised the MMA community when he opted to retire rather than defend his undisputed heavyweight championship.
Jones’ retirement paved the way for Aspinall to be promoted to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, ending the long title dispute. While many fans were eager to witness the highly anticipated showdown, Jones stepping away from the cage leaves an unresolved chapter in MMA’s history. UFC Hall of Famer Daniel Cormier speculated that Jones might return to competition if Aspinall suffers a defeat, hinting at the possibility of the rivalry resuming in the future.