Jon Jones announced his retirement but plans to fight again, sparking controversy over avoiding a matchup with Tom Aspinall, despite UFC support and potential White House fight rumors.
Jon Jones might really want to fight at the White House, but his timing couldn’t be worse. He announced his retirement, only to declare a comeback after Tom Aspinall booked a fight.
The saga of Jones versus Aspinall seemed over when Jones, the former UFC heavyweight champ, announced his retirement after defeating Stipe Miocic. Meanwhile, Aspinall was promoted to undisputed champion and confirmed his next fight.
But then, President Donald Trump teased a White House fight in 2026, prompting Jones to re-enter the UFC’s anti-doping program for one more bout. Coincidence? Maybe. But UFC legend Matt Brown thinks it looks bad for Jones.
“I’m as big a Jon Jones fan as anybody,” Brown said on The Fighter vs. The Writer. He defended Jones, saying he’s not afraid of Aspinall, but admits the narrative is hard to ignore. Fighting at the White House? Cool, but not a dealbreaker for Brown.
Yet, Brown admits, “This looks bad, in my opinion.” He respects Jones, recalling how he dominated while on cocaine. But the optics suggest ducking.
Jones faced accusations of avoiding Aspinall due to delays before his retirement. UFC CEO Dana White backed Jones, insisting he wasn’t scared. Still, the situation paints a different picture.
Deep down, Brown doesn’t buy the fear angle. But if Jones fights anyone else, the narrative remains unchanged. “I don’t believe Jon is scared,” Brown said. But choosing not to fight Aspinall? That’s not cool.
Brown argues it’s not about fear but choices. Maybe Jones wants a lower risk or easier payday. But he must understand how it looks. People will say he’s ducking.
From the UFC’s perspective, they’re just excited about Jones returning. He’s no longer holding up the division, and the UFC sees dollar signs with Jones headlining a marquee event.
“If I’m Dana White, I’m like cool Jon, fight whoever you want,” Brown said. But for Jones, there’s no other fight. The buzz around not fighting Aspinall might even draw more viewers.
Brown questions how Jones can justify fighting anyone else. Dana probably doesn’t care now that Jones isn’t the champ. But for Jones, fighting someone else could tarnish his legacy.
“That, in my opinion, damages his legacy,” Brown concluded. People will say he chose not to fight Aspinall. Ducking or scared? Doubtful. But choosing not to fight him? That’s a fact if he fights anyone else.
Listen to new episodes of The Fighter vs. The Writer every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.