The question of whether Jon Jones is avoiding a fight with Tom Aspinall has been a point of discussion since Jones announced his retirement and vacated the UFC heavyweight title. UFC President Dana White addressed these rumors recently, denying that Jones is dodging Aspinall but admitting there was one opponent in Jones’ career whom he might have avoided.

In an interview with Oscar Willis from The Mac Life, shared partly by the social media user @acdmma_, Dana White spoke candidly after the Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford press conference. Many fans are intrigued by the transition of the heavyweight belt from Jones to interim champion Tom Aspinall, especially with Jones stepping away from competition at age 38.

When asked directly if Jones was avoiding Aspinall by retiring, White responded emphatically:

“No, Jon Jones; I said it a million times, I’ll say it again, he’s never ducked anybody. Other than that one goofy time with the Chael Sonnen thing, he’s never ducked anybody. I think the reality is, whatever changed his mind with this fight, I don’t know you’d have to ask him that, but he’s 38 years old and I don’t know.” —Dana White, UFC President

The Notorious Incident Involving Chael Sonnen

According to Dana White, the only apparent case where Jones hesitated to face an opponent occurred back in 2012 during a turbulent period leading up to UFC 151. Jon Jones was set to defend his light heavyweight title against Dan Henderson, a former two-division Pride FC champion. Unfortunately, Henderson suffered an MCL injury just eight days before the event and had to pull out.

Chael Sonnen quickly offered to step in as a replacement on short notice, but Jones and his camp declined the offer to fight Sonnen. This refusal led Dana White to publicly criticize Jones’ then-coach, Greg Jackson, calling him a “sport killer” for not allowing Jones to accept the replacement bout.

Jones has since recounted that this conflict was one of the most intense disagreements he has had with White. Though the fight did not happen at UFC 151, Jones eventually faced Sonnen later, serving as opposing coaches on The Ultimate Fighter and later defeating Sonnen by strikes in the first round at UFC 159.

Context Surrounding Jon Jones’ Retirement and Tom Aspinall’s Rise

Jon Jones’ decision to retire and give up the UFC heavyweight title has fueled speculation about whether he is avoiding an upcoming matchup with Tom Aspinall, who became the interim champion before claiming the undisputed title. White’s comments aim to dispel any notion of Jones purposely ducking Aspinall, highlighting Jones’ age and personal choice as factors influencing his retirement.

As Aspinall continues to establish himself as a heavyweight champion, the UFC landscape is evolving without Jones, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters in MMA history. Whether Jones will return or the heavyweight division moves forward without him remains to be seen, but White’s remarks make clear that, apart from that one controversial episode over a decade ago, Jones has never shied away from competition.