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Tom Aspinall Reacts to Dana White Jumping Ship From ‘Bones’ to Makhachev in P4P Dispute

Last year, Dana White couldn’t stop himself from calling Jon Jones the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world….

Last year, Dana White couldn’t stop himself from calling Jon Jones the No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

Now, the UFC CEO is reversing course after seeing Islam Makhachev make quick work of short-notice replacement opponent Renato Moicano at the promotion’s first pay-per-view of the year.

Makhachev scored a quick-fire submission victory over Moicano after his originally scheduled opponent, Arman Tsarukyan, bowed out of their lightweight championship headliner mere hours before they were scheduled to make the walk in Los Angeles.

Notching his fourth-straight defense of the 155-pound crown, Makhachev solidified his spot as the No. 1 ranked P4P fighter in the world and Dana White couldn’t agree more.

“There’s no doubt about it,” White said during the UFC 311 post-fight press conference. “He’s the best pound-for-pound in the world right now and he’s the definitely the best to ever do it in that division.”

It’s quite the change from where we were just a few months ago when White was getting into heated debates with journalists over Jones’ undeniable status as the greatest of all time.

But White’s comments mean very little to Tom Aspinall, the man slated to square off with ‘Bones’ later this year.

“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 in a video on his YouTube channel. “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… 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.”

Dana White Confident Jones vs. Aspinall goes down in 2025

Following Jon Jones’ win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, attention quickly turned to a long-awaited title indication clash with Aspinall, the promotion’s interim heavyweight titleholder. During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, White expressed confidence that the fight will get done in 2025.

“We’re in the works, we’re talking on it,” White said. “I mean, I’ve said that I’m very confident that fight happens this year… Nothing’s holding it up. It’s just a matter of getting it done. You know, this stuff, it’s not as easy to put these types of fights together as people think they are. They take time, and we’ll get it done.”

Just a few short weeks ago, rumors began swirling that Jones was seeking a massive $30 million payday for his scrap with Aspinall. However, Dana White called bullsh*t on the rumors, but only after Joe Rogan repeated it during an episode of his JRE podcast.

Dana White’s Latest Update On Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Is A Promising One

Right at the top of every fight fans’ wish list for 2025 is the potential for a heavyweight title unification clash in the UFC. Jon Jones might be considered by many to be the greatest to ever do it but some still question whether he is the best in his current division. Interim champion Tom […]

Interim champion Tom Aspinall has a claim to be the best heavyweight in the world right now and his speed, power and age makes him such an interesting challenge for Jones to take on. The excitement around seeing them meet inside the Octagon has only increased following the comments that have been exchanged between them, specifically on the side of the heavyweight champion who hasn’t been overly interested in the fight.

Fortunately, Dana White is and though Jones has proven to be a stubborn negotiator in the past, the UFC clearly wants to make it happen and that’s a step in the right direction. With Aspinall saying that he has already agreed to everything on his side, there appears to be plans in motion.

White gave the same impression during a recent interview with Jim Rome where he spoke about the fight and his expectations of seeing it take place.

“We’re in the works, we’re talking on it. I mean, I’ve said that I’m very confident that fight happens this year.”

Without having a look behind the scenes, many will assume given the narrative surrounding the fight that getting Jones to sign on the dotted line will be the biggest hurdle. White said that despite this, he doesn’t believe there is a substantial barrier stopping this deal from getting across the line.

“Nothing. Nothing’s holding it up. It’s just a matter of getting it done. You know, this stuff, it’s not as easy to put these type of fights together as people think they are. They take time and we’ll get it done.”

(White appears on the show and talks about the fight at around the 2:37:00 mark)

Henry Cejudo Backs Jon Jones: ‘Too Smart’ for Tom Aspinall in Heavyweight Showdown

Tom Aspinall is really good, but Jon Jones is just too smart. Over the last several days, every major…

Tom Aspinall is really good, but Jon Jones is just too smart.

Over the last several days, every major MMA news outlet has been running stories about a potential clash between undisputed heavyweight titleholder Jon Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall. Most of them surrounding Joe Rogan’s claim that ‘Bones’ was seeking a massive $30 million payday for the fight.

Since then, Rogan has backtracked on his statement after UFC CEO Dana White reportedly called him up directly and called bullsh*t on the rumor.

Still, Rogan’s one comment about the fight immediately made waves, proving once again that fighters, fans, and analysts alike are desperate to see two of the best MMA athletes on the planet compete against one another.

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Right now, Aspinall is a slight favorite to come out on top in the yet-to-be-announced unification clash, but former champ-champ Henry Cejudo doesn’t necessarily see it that way.

Cejudo thinks Aspinall is good, but not good enough to beat Jon Jones

Speaking on his Pound-4-Pound podcast alongside Kamaru Usman, ‘Triple C’ revealed that after seeing Aspinall train, he had to admit that while the Brit is pretty damn good, he’s not good enough to beat the GOAT.

“Heavyweight, I’m going Jon Jones, bro,” Cejudo said. “I watched a little bit of Tom Aspinall yesterday. Really, really good. But Jones is just too smart, bro.”

We may not know exactly when Jones vs. Aspinall will go down, but we can confirm that Cejudo will step back inside the Octagon on February 22 when the UFC heads back to Seattle, Washington.

In the main event of the evening, Cejudo will square off with No. 8 ranked contender Song Yadong. The co-main event will also see the return of another former champion as Dominick Cruz faces Rob Font. It will be Cruz’s first time competing since an August 2022 loss to Marlon ‘Chito’ Vera.

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Joe Rogan Retracts Claim Of Jon Jones’ Pay Demand For Tom Aspinall Fight: ‘Dana Contacted Me…’

Joe Rogan is backpedaling on his recent assertion regarding Jon Jones’ potential title fight against Tom Aspinall. Interim UFC Heavyweight champion Aspinall has been relentlessly campaigning for a title unification showdown with Jones for over a year now. However, “Bones” has repeatedly brushed off the challenge, though he hasn’t entirely shut the door — hinting […]

Joe Rogan is backpedaling on his recent assertion regarding Jon Jones’ potential title fight against Tom Aspinall.

Interim UFC Heavyweight champion Aspinall has been relentlessly campaigning for a title unification showdown with Jones for over a year now. However, “Bones” has repeatedly brushed off the challenge, though he hasn’t entirely shut the door — hinting that he’d consider stepping into the Octagon if the UFC presents him with the most lucrative payday of his career.

Interestingly, Rogan claimed on his podcast that he had heard whispers of the reigning UFC Heavyweight champion demanding a staggering $30 million to face Aspinall. He even expressed optimism that the UFC might meet the hefty price tag to make the highly anticipated clash a reality.

However, during a recent episode of the Joe Rogan Experience, the seasoned UFC commentator shared that he received a call from UFC CEO Dana White, who refuted his earlier statements. Rogan admitted the particular episode was recorded roughly two weeks ago and confessed he couldn’t recall the source who mentioned Jones’ rumored $30 million demand.

“We were talking about Jon Jones and I had heard a rumor that Jon Jones wanted $30 million to fight Tom Aspinall,” Rogan said. “And I did hear that rumor and I did hear that the UFC said yes. But it is not true, Dana contacted me and said that rumor is bullsh*t. So I felt obligated to tell everybody that was a fake rumor. I don’t even remember because we did that podcast two weeks ago, I don’t remember who told me that.”

“Bones” was last seen in action at UFC 309 in November 2024, where he secured a dominant third-round knockout win over former champion Stipe Miocic in his first heavyweight title defense.

Meanwhile, Aspinall has held the interim heavyweight title since knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023. He further solidified his reign with another knockout win over Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July 2024.

Read More: Islam Makhachev’s Manager On P4P Debate: Jon Jones ‘Can’t Beat Gane, Stipe & Be In The Top 5’

Islam Makhachev’s Manager On P4P Debate: Jon Jones ‘Can’t Beat Gane, Stipe & Be In The Top 5’

The manager of UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has a firm take on Jon Jones’ pound-for-pound worthiness. Debates over the P4P rankings don’t appear to have been left in 2024, with the discussion over who deserves top spot continuing to rage on into the new year. The conversation picked up when Dana White rejected the […]

The manager of UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev has a firm take on Jon Jones’ pound-for-pound worthiness.

Debates over the P4P rankings don’t appear to have been left in 2024, with the discussion over who deserves top spot continuing to rage on into the new year.

The conversation picked up when Dana White rejected the official order, which has Makhachev on the throne. For the UFC CEO, the obvious pick is Jones, who returned from a lengthy layoff to achieve two-division glory up at heavyweight in 2023.

That stance has received plenty of pushback, largely down to the Rochester native’s inactivity and avoidance of interim champ Tom Aspinall in order to face Stipe Miocic last November.

Among those unsurprisingly backing the Dagestani’s claim is his manager. And more than just putting Jones below Makhachev, Ali Abdelaziz doesn’t even see a case for the heavyweight king holding a spot inside the top five.

“Listen, Dana all the time says Jon Jones is the pound-for-pound best. I think Dana’s wrong,” Abdelaziz told Kevin Iole. “Islam finished nine of his last 11 opponents. He beat the No. 1 P4P, the No. 3 P4P guy; he beat everyone who is really good in their prime.

“In (Jones’) time, he was the P4P (best). If you say all-time, he might be the greatest (of) all-time,” Abdelaziz continued. “But right now, I don’t think (Jones) is top five. You can’t beat Ciryl Gane and beat Stipe and be in the top five. … Islam right now is the best.”

Makhachev will soon have the time to further cement his grip on the title of P4P king, with the Dagestani set to defend his lightweight belt against a previous opponent in Arman Tsarukyan in the main event of next weekend’s UFC 311 pay-per-view.

Jones, meanwhile, has uncertainty surrounding his career. While White ‘guaranteed’ that any return to action would come against Aspinall in 2025, it remains to be seen whether “Bones” and the promotion will agree on terms for the unification clash to come to fruition.

‘Jon Jones Is Smart in His Approach’ – Daniel Cormier on Jones’ UFC Leverage in Tom Aspinall Fight

Daniel Cormier can’t see the UFC paying Jon Jones $30 million for a fight with Tom Aspinall, but if…

Daniel Cormier can’t see the UFC paying Jon Jones $30 million for a fight with Tom Aspinall, but if fans want it bad enough, Dana White will deliver.

After leaving the door open for a showdown with the interim titleholder in November, Jones’ reported asking price for the quote-unquote biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history is a steep one.

And while some, like longtime color commentator Joe Rogan, think the promotion will ultimately give the GOAT what he’s asking for, others, like former champ-champ Daniel Cormier, think the UFC will be successful in booking the bout, though not to the tune of $30 million.

“I ain’t doing it, so then it made people go, ‘I want this, I want this.’ And when you want something, especially you, the family, because you drive everything, when you want something bad, the UFC tends to make it happen,” Cormier said on his YouTube channel. “Will it make it happen to the tune of $30 million? I don’t know. I wouldn’t say that it would happen, but what I do know is that they will be far more willing to have the conversation.

“So, for all the time that everybody has said how horrible Jones is, and he’s stupid, he’s an idiot, me being at the lead of this, very smart in the way that he’s approached this. Especially if he wins—imagine if he wins.”

Jon Jones beating Aspinall would be bad for the UFC

So what happens if Jon Jones does defeat Tom Aspinall? Chances are, he would either stick around long enough to cash in on another big-money fight, like a showdown with light heavyweight king Alex Pereira, or he would simply walk away from the fight game with his gold and his GOAT status secured.

To Cormier, that would be the worst-case scenario.

“They’ve got to get him in there with Aspinall. And you’ve got to hope that Aspinall wins if you want the heavyweight title to continue being what the heavyweight title has been,” Cormier said. “Because if he doesn’t, and Jones goes, ‘I’m walking away as the greatest of all time, as the reigning heavyweight champion,’ it leaves a gap that’s hard to fill.”