UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that heavyweight champion Jon Jones has agreed to face interim champion Tom Aspinall. Despite recent public exchanges between the two fighters and ongoing speculation, White stated the matchup is agreed upon and he intends to make it happen in the near future.
White addressed the online activity, including Aspinall`s comments about being the undisputed champion and Jones`s posts mentioning potential retirement or a fight against Francis Ngannou. White dismissed this social media “noise,” asserting, “Jon Jones agreed to do the fight… Jon agreed to fight Tom, yes.” He reiterated his confidence that the Aspinall fight will take place.
Regarding a potential return for Francis Ngannou to face Jones, White offered a clear stance: “Probably not,” indicating the door is closed on that possibility for now.
White acknowledged that negotiating fights with Jon Jones has historically been challenging, describing the process as like dealing with an “artist.” However, he maintained that Aspinall is the intended opponent for Jones`s next fight. White is not letting the recent social media drama deter his plan, mentioning he will discuss the situation with Jones now that the champion has returned home.
Furthermore, White commented on the online petition calling for Jones to be stripped of his title to elevate Aspinall to undisputed status. He found the petition “silly,” pointing out the relatively small number of signatures compared to the global fanbase and confirming that such efforts do not influence the UFC`s decisions regarding its champions.
Ultimately, White advised the public to disregard rumors and speculation circulating online unless they are officially announced by the UFC. He concluded by reinforcing the primary takeaway: “Jon agreed to fight Tom, fact.”
