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Have you ever received a gift that you didn’t want?
Although UFC 309 promises to be a high-octane spectacle headlined by two of the greatest fighters the promotion has ever produced, this Saturday’s pay-per-view showdown is as underwhelming as a pair of whitey-tighties on Christmas. Reigning heavyweight champion Jon Jones and former two–time heavyweight kingpin Stipe Miocic carry strong resumes and fanbases into Madison Square Garden, and their fight has been years in the making. So why does this matchup feel like a slap in the face to loyal Ultimate Fighting Championship fans who have watched the heavyweight division unfold over the last four years?
Two words: Tom Aspinall.
While Jones and Miocic are set to make two of the biggest paydays they’ve ever seen, the reigning interim champion sits in the wings, ignored by Jones and UFC matchmakers. Aspinall is everything a promotion should want in its next heavyweight star. He’s young (31), powerful (12 KOs) and charismatic, so why do Jones and UFC President Dana White continue undermining his title aspirations?
There once was a time when Jones was a young, hungry contender looking for an opportunity to make a name for himself. Young “Bones” was a menace the MMA world had never seen. He tore through former champions like construction paper en route to the light heavyweight title, but as his win streak grew, so did his ego. Barely a year after winning the title, Jones pleaded guilty to driving under the influence after wrapping his Bentley around a telephone pole, and the problems would only mount from there.
From multiple PED suspensions to countless run-ins with the law, Jones has always been a mental lapse away from ruining the UFC’s future plans. White infamously canceled UFC 151 after Jones refused to fight Chael Sonnen on eight days' notice and removed Jones from UFC 200 for a failed drug test. Considering all the problems Jones has caused for the UFC outside of the cage, calling him a company man is a bit of a stretch.
UFC 309: Jones vs Miocic. Saturday at 10 ET on ESPN+. Order Now!
The same can’t be said for Aspinall. Since signing with the UFC in 2020, the English giant has fought a late replacement opponent on three occasions. When Jones tore his pectoral tendon ahead of UFC 295, Aspinall came in on short notice and saved the main card with a first-round knockout over Sergei Pavlovich to win the interim title. With Jones out for the foreseeable future, Aspinall kept the division moving with an interim title defense over Curtis Blaydes and even agreed to serve as the backup fighter for the UFC 309 main event.
So why does Jones continue to duck this man? Let me be clear. Jones is afraid of no man. At 27-1, Jones has defeated some of the baddest men on the planet, and his resume is hard to beat, but his constant dismissal of Aspinall as a future opponent is a terrible look. Jones insists that Miocic — a 42-year-old former champ who hasn’t fought since he was brutally knocked out four years ago — is a more deserving contender, and Aspinall shouldn’t even be in the conversation for a title shot.
While strange, Jones could be moving this way for multiple reasons. At 37, Jones’ best days are behind him, and it's very likely that UFC 309 could be his curtain call. However, if he runs through Miocic the way many expect him to, it would be hard to rule out a return. Another possibility is that Jones wants to use this controversy to build up momentum for an Aspinall fight, but according to his own words, he has no interest in the bout.
When this fight first sparked interest a year ago, Aspinall knew his place amongst a star like Jones. He told him he’d patiently await his return and was hesitant to speak any ill-will towards the two-division champ, but at this point, Aspinall might have to break out the momma jokes to get Jones to fight him.
Despite his mental fortitude in the cage, it’s evident that the duck claims are starting to get to Jones’ head. He refuses to give Aspinall his just due and even doubled down on the disrespect by saying light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira was more deserving of a title shot. For a guy who was given chance after chance to improve his image and grow his brand, it’s pretty selfish of Jones to deny the opportunity to a fighter who so clearly deserves it.
Aspinall cannot afford to miss out on the opportunity to fight Jones. As the interim champion, his title will never be fully recognized unless he steps in the cage with Jones. If Jones retires or avoids him, the UFC will miss out on fully capitalizing on its next big star. But what’s new? Jones has never cared about what’s best for the sport, and his diva-like attitude will continue to do more damage to careers than his punches or kicks ever could.