Dana White Spills the Tea on Tom Aspinall’s Relentless Hunt for Life-Changing Fight with Jon Jones

Dana White Spills the Tea on Tom Aspinall's Relentless Hunt for Life-Changing Fight with Jon JonesThere are a lot of fighters who talk a big game in front of the camera and tuck their…

Dana White Spills the Tea on Tom Aspinall's Relentless Hunt for Life-Changing Fight with Jon Jones

There are a lot of fighters who talk a big game in front of the camera and tuck their tails when it’s time to throw hands. Tom Aspinall is not that guy.

That comes according to UFC CEO Dana White who sang the praises of the interim heavyweight champion during a recent appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored. Specifically, White applauded Aspinall for being a guy who legitimately wants to fight the best of the best.

”He [Aspinall] wants to fight everybody. I love it,” White said. “I love that, a young aggresive talented heavyweight, that he actually wants to fight all of the best. The problem in this business is you have guys who say a lot of thinigs publicly but behind the curtains they don’t mean it…Tom Aspinall is not that guy. Tom Aspinall wants to fight all the best in the world and I love that.”

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White is excited to find out just how good tom aspinall really is

Aspinall will get his shot to fight the best in the world before long. Though no official announcements have been made, White has been more than confident when saying that a long-awaited clash between Aspinall and undisputed heavyweight titleholder Jon ‘Bones’ Jones would go down in 2025.

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Asked how good he thinks Aspinall is, White believes that the Brit is pretty damn good, but we’ll find out just how good when he inevitably tussles with the pound-for-pound greatest mixed martial artist of all time.

”Very good,” White said. We’re gonna find out when we make this Jon Jones fight…if he can beat Jon Jones, it’s life changing. ”

After winning the interim title via a 69-second knockout of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295, Aspinall became the first fighter in more than a decade to defend an interim belt, defeating Curtis Blaydes exactly one minute into their title tilt at UFC 307 in July.

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Meanwhile, Jones is coming off his first successful defense of the undisputed crown, scoring a third-round TKO over two-time titleholder Stipe Miocic at MSG in November.

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Demetrious Johnson Explains Why Jon Jones Would Be a Terrible Partner in a Street Fight

Demetrious Johnson Explains Why Jon Jones Would Be a Terrible Partner in a Street FightJon Jones is perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist on the planet, but Demetrious Johnson thinks he’d be terrible…

Demetrious Johnson Explains Why Jon Jones Would Be a Terrible Partner in a Street Fight

Jon Jones is perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist on the planet, but Demetrious Johnson thinks he’d be terrible backup in a street fight.

During a recent appearance on Johnson’s MightyCast podcast, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson got into a few hypotheticals with the flyweight great, one of them being which MMA fighter you would want on your side in a street fight. Understandably, ‘Rampage’ quickly named the two pound-for-pound best fighters in the world today, undisputed heavyweight champion Jon Jones and lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev.

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“If I’m finna go into this dark alley, you know what I’m saying, and they say you can have one person with you to help you fight, I’m gonna say Jon Jones,” Jackson said. “I’m not gonna say Islam, you know what I’m saying. That’s me, what I think.”

However, Johnson was quick to disagree. Particularly when it comes to ‘Bones’ whom he suggested would probably turn on you and join the other side in stealing all your stuff.

“I don’t know, man,” Johnson said. “I think you’re picking the wrong person. I think Jon Jones might rob you and join sides with the other guys.”

Of course, Demetrious Johnson’s comment is a clear reference to the slew of legal troubles ‘Bones’ has found himself in over the years, the most recently being a situation where he allegedly threatened to kill a drug tester who was dispatched to his house to collect a sample in March 2024.

‘DJ’ Dubs Francis Ngannou, not Jon Jones, the best heavyweight in MMA

It’s certainly not the first time ‘Mighty Mouse’ has thrown some shade at Jones. Shortly after seeing ‘Bones’ dispatch Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Johnson dubbed Francis Ngannou the best heavyweight in the world, noting that ‘The Predator’ brutally KO’d Miocic years before Jones got there.

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“I think, right now, Francis Ngannou is probably the best heavyweight in the world,” Johnson told MMA Fighting. “I truly believe that. After seeing what he did to his last opponent [Renan Ferreira], he beat Stipe, [and] knocked him out four years ago.”

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Demetrious Johnson Explains Why Jon Jones Would Be a Terrible Partner in a Street Fight

Demetrious Johnson Explains Why Jon Jones Would Be a Terrible Partner in a Street FightJon Jones is perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist on the planet, but Demetrious Johnson thinks he’d be terrible…

Demetrious Johnson Explains Why Jon Jones Would Be a Terrible Partner in a Street Fight

Jon Jones is perhaps the greatest mixed martial artist on the planet, but Demetrious Johnson thinks he’d be terrible backup in a street fight.

During a recent appearance on Johnson’s MightyCast podcast, former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson got into a few hypotheticals with the flyweight great, one of them being which MMA fighter you would want on your side in a street fight. Understandably, ‘Rampage’ quickly named the two pound-for-pound best fighters in the world today, undisputed heavyweight champion Jon Jones and lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev.

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“If I’m finna go into this dark alley, you know what I’m saying, and they say you can have one person with you to help you fight, I’m gonna say Jon Jones,” Jackson said. “I’m not gonna say Islam, you know what I’m saying. That’s me, what I think.”

However, Johnson was quick to disagree. Particularly when it comes to ‘Bones’ whom he suggested would probably turn on you and join the other side in stealing all your stuff.

“I don’t know, man,” Johnson said. “I think you’re picking the wrong person. I think Jon Jones might rob you and join sides with the other guys.”

Of course, Demetrious Johnson’s comment is a clear reference to the slew of legal troubles ‘Bones’ has found himself in over the years, the most recently being a situation where he allegedly threatened to kill a drug tester who was dispatched to his house to collect a sample in March 2024.

‘DJ’ Dubs Francis Ngannou, not Jon Jones, the best heavyweight in MMA

It’s certainly not the first time ‘Mighty Mouse’ has thrown some shade at Jones. Shortly after seeing ‘Bones’ dispatch Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Johnson dubbed Francis Ngannou the best heavyweight in the world, noting that ‘The Predator’ brutally KO’d Miocic years before Jones got there.

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“I think, right now, Francis Ngannou is probably the best heavyweight in the world,” Johnson told MMA Fighting. “I truly believe that. After seeing what he did to his last opponent [Renan Ferreira], he beat Stipe, [and] knocked him out four years ago.”

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Anthony Smith Maintains Jon Jones Is P4P Best Because Islam Makhachev ‘Has Taken A Legitimate Loss’

When it comes to the ever-polarizing pound-for-pound debate between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev, UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is in the corner of his former opponent. This past weekend, Makhachev did no harm to his claim to top spot, where he already currently sits in the official UFC rankings. The Dagestani secured a […]

When it comes to the ever-polarizing pound-for-pound debate between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev, UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is in the corner of his former opponent.

This past weekend, Makhachev did no harm to his claim to top spot, where he already currently sits in the official UFC rankings. The Dagestani secured a record-breaking fourth successful defense of his lightweight belt and fifth UFC title win at the expense of Renato Moicano.

One man who has long been against that has been UFC CEO Dana White, instead putting forth heavyweight kingpin Jones as the clear and obvious P4P number one.

Interestingly, despite Moicano being a lower-ranked and late-notice replacement opponent for Makhachev after the withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan, White finally acknowledged Makhachev as the P4P best while interacting with the media in Los Angeles.

During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, though, Smith dismissed that take owing to one discrepancy when it comes to Jones and Makhachev’s record — one “legitimate” defeat.

“I still think it’s Jon Jones,” Smith said. “He’s gone through three different generations of fighters and has continued to win. And again, Islam has taken a legitimate loss and Jon Jones hasn’t.

“I think you take them all and put them in a room, Jon Jones walks out,” Smith concluded.

Makhachev’s sole career loss came a decade ago at UFC 192, where he was knocked out cold by Adriano Martins.

On paper, Jones boasts the same number of setbacks. But the importance of that has long been dismissed in MMA circles due to it coming via disqualification for a now-legal 12-6 elbow against Matt Hamill in 2009.

Anthony Smith Maintains Jon Jones Is P4P Best Because Islam Makhachev ‘Has Taken A Legitimate Loss’

When it comes to the ever-polarizing pound-for-pound debate between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev, UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is in the corner of his former opponent. This past weekend, Makhachev did no harm to his claim to top spot, where he already currently sits in the official UFC rankings. The Dagestani secured a […]

When it comes to the ever-polarizing pound-for-pound debate between Jon Jones and Islam Makhachev, UFC light heavyweight contender Anthony Smith is in the corner of his former opponent.

This past weekend, Makhachev did no harm to his claim to top spot, where he already currently sits in the official UFC rankings. The Dagestani secured a record-breaking fourth successful defense of his lightweight belt and fifth UFC title win at the expense of Renato Moicano.

One man who has long been against that has been UFC CEO Dana White, instead putting forth heavyweight kingpin Jones as the clear and obvious P4P number one.

Interestingly, despite Moicano being a lower-ranked and late-notice replacement opponent for Makhachev after the withdrawal of Arman Tsarukyan, White finally acknowledged Makhachev as the P4P best while interacting with the media in Los Angeles.

During an appearance on Tuesday’s episode of The Ariel Helwani Show on Uncrowned, though, Smith dismissed that take owing to one discrepancy when it comes to Jones and Makhachev’s record — one “legitimate” defeat.

“I still think it’s Jon Jones,” Smith said. “He’s gone through three different generations of fighters and has continued to win. And again, Islam has taken a legitimate loss and Jon Jones hasn’t.

“I think you take them all and put them in a room, Jon Jones walks out,” Smith concluded.

Makhachev’s sole career loss came a decade ago at UFC 192, where he was knocked out cold by Adriano Martins.

On paper, Jones boasts the same number of setbacks. But the importance of that has long been dismissed in MMA circles due to it coming via disqualification for a now-legal 12-6 elbow against Matt Hamill in 2009.

Tom Aspinall Reacts To Dana White ‘Jumping Ship’ From Jon Jones To Islam Makhachev In P4P Debate

Tom Aspinall, like many fans and fellow fighters, tuned into UFC 311 to watch a man that many believe is at the very top of the sport right now. Islam Makhachev may have undergone a change to his opponent literally the day before fight night but this didn’t affect him one bit. The lightweight champion […]

Tom Aspinall, like many fans and fellow fighters, tuned into UFC 311 to watch a man that many believe is at the very top of the sport right now. Islam Makhachev may have undergone a change to his opponent literally the day before fight night but this didn’t affect him one bit.

The lightweight champion still went out there like it was business as usual and submitted Renato Moicano in the first round. It may not have been the Arman Tsarukyan rematch that people have wanted to see for such a long time but it once again showed that when Makhachev says it doesn’t matter who you put him in there with, he means it.

At 33-years old, he’s now the record holder for the most consecutive lightweight title defenses with four and by earning his 15th consecutive win inside the Octagon, he is tied at second with Kamaru Usman for the longest winning streak in UFC history with one spot to go until he draws level with Anderson Silva.

Another Makhachev win meant more people making the case for why he is the pound-for-pound number one fighter in the sport today. Whilst some may argue that the accomplishments of Jon Jones speak for themselves, others might state that “Bones” hasn’t been overly active or facing the same level of opposition.

It was only a matter of time before Dana White was once again asked about this topic having been very vocal in the past that it’s Jones with no room for debate. After seeing the UFC boss change his answer, Aspinall commented on this during a video on his YouTube channel.

“Now we’re seeing Dana White coming out and saying that he’s the pound-for-pound No. 1 in the world, Islam Makhachev,” Aspinall said. “As we all know, to me, pound-for-pound is a lot of made-up stuff. I don’t look into that. But it’s just funny that he’s kind of jumped ship now from Jon Jones to Islam.”

Regardless of whether or not Makhachev was able to convince anyone else that he is the best fighter in the sport today, Aspinall was happy to see him go out there and get the win. In many ways, it felt like a fairly routine outing for the 155-pound king but that doesn’t bother the Brit one bit.

“Islam did what he was supposed to do: went out there, fought whoever was put in front of him, which is what a champion is supposed to do. Fought a guy that the UFC told him to fight, got the win, and he’s levels above anybody else in that division. He’s going to hold the belt for a long, long time, and that is something that I’m very excited for because I’m a massive Islam Makhachev fan.”