Tom Aspinall makes ‘could not care much less’ Jon Jones declare as UFC rival ‘performs sport’

British UFC star Tom Aspinall wants to unify the UFC heavyweight and interim heavyweight titles but Jon Jones is standing in his way and won’t even talk about a clash

Tom Aspinall admits he “couldn’t care less” if he doesn’t fight Jon Jones in 2025 – as long as he gets the chance to become the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.

The Brit, 31, stopped Russian Sergei Pavlovich in just 69 seconds to win the interim UFC Heavyweight title in November 2023. Since then, his eyes have been on becoming the undisputed champion, a title currently held by US legend Jones – who has constantly dismissed the prospect of meeting Aspinall in the octagon.

But Aspinall has revealed he would be just as happy to take the title without a mouthwatering showdown against the 37-year-old, who is widely regarded as the greatest MMA fighter of all time. He said: “I couldn’t really care less to be honest.

“It would be a nice name to have on the resume, but I’m not too bothered if it is Jones or whoever really. I just want to unify the belts. It’s still the same on paper.”

Jones, who defended his title against Stipe Miocic last month, refused to take part in a friendly ‘face off’ when he met Apinall in New York, and even walked out of an interview he thought was going to become “an Aspinall fest”.

Yet the Brit said: “I do think he’s playing a bit of a game. He’s getting everyone interested and invested in the fight, which is good. I think he’d rather not fight me, but I think he wants the money to the point where he can’t turn it down.”

Aspinall, of Atherton, Greater Manchester, is only the third British UFC champion in history and boasts the UFC record for the shortest average fight time of 2mins 2secs from his nine fights, eight of which he has won.

Regarding a potential clash with Jones he added: “I think I’m too big for him, too fast for him and I’m too fresh for him. I think a lot of the guys he’s fighting have been older and sluggish. I think I’m the opposite to that.”