Jon Jones addressed his unresolved feud with Tom Aspinall, denying responsibility for their fight not happening and defending his legacy following his retirement from UFC.
Jon Jones has something to say about the Tom Aspinall saga. The former UFC champ, who retired at 37, left an impressive legacy in the ring but also many unresolved questions outside it. One of those questions? His ongoing feud with Tom Aspinall.
Jones, once the UFC’s undisputed heavyweight champion, faced criticism for not fighting Aspinall. Aspinall, the interim champ, was promoted to undisputed status after Jones retired. On Friday, Jones took to Twitter to address the situation.
He tweeted, denying any blame for the fight not happening. “If the fight was done, trust me, I would be fighting,” he wrote. Negotiations began, but nothing was finalized. Meanwhile, Jones enjoyed his life, staying quiet as instructed.
Interestingly, Jones publicly commented on the feud multiple times. He even left a vulgar reply on Aspinall’s Instagram post. Later, Jones mentioned being advised to reconsider and give it more time.
UFC CEO Dana White claimed the fight was a done deal, but Jones changed his mind and retired. Aspinall remains open to a future fight but is focused on defending his title against active contenders.
Jones fired off more tweets, defending his legacy and engaging with online critics. “I’m retired and allegedly in trouble again,” he quipped. He challenged others to work harder than him.
Retirement hasn’t slowed him down. Jones claims he’s working harder now, enjoying life without the physical demands of fighting. It’s all about using his personality to connect with fans.
For Jones, the entertainment game is like WWE. He mused about the nature of public perception, comparing himself to greats like Tom Brady and LeBron James. Even Muhammad Ali faced similar scrutiny.
He noted that success often breeds criticism, even in everyday roles like a car wash manager. Staying calm in the octagon, he believes, is a crucial skill—just look at Anderson Silva.
Jones wrapped up by highlighting his achievements. With more championships than some of the greats, he feels justified in hanging up his gloves. And so, the saga continues.