Just hours after undergoing elbow surgery, Jon Jones took time to fire back at Tom Aspinall for his repeated callouts on social media.
The reigning UFC heavyweight champion, who suffered a torn pectoral muscle last year that delayed his fight with Stipe Miocic, will likely return in the summer but he’s been the center of attention for Aspinall for the past few days. After he claimed the interim UFC heavyweight title on Jones’ absence, Aspinall has rather loudly called for a title unification bout rather than rebooking the fight with Miocic.
The latest jab came via TikTok when Aspinall posted a video showing that he’d be willing to wait decades for the Jones fight, which finally caught the attention of the fighter UFC CEO Dana White often calls the greatest of all-time.
“I recognize only four of these names on your resume,” Jones wrote in a now deleted post on Instagram. “Launching TikTok attacks while I’m over here on the injury list is just whack. You get no points for that where I’m from.”
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Jones continued in a separate post on Twitter.
“Only four recognizable opponents, and already the king of England, must be nice,” Jones wrote. “There will be legendary tales told about you and your infamous call outs.”
Only four recognizable opponents, and already the king of England, must be nice. There will be legendary tales told about you and your infamous call outs.
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
Jones also scoffed at Aspinall’s supposed frustration that he will have to wait for a chance to unify the titles with Miocic getting the next crack at the undisputed champion.
“I mean, it doesn’t really work like that,” Jones said. “I was a champion when I was 23 years old, you can’t show up at age 30 pretending like you’ve been chasing me your whole life. I have no clue who 90% of his résumé is, meanwhile, I’ve been highlighting UFC events my entire career.”
I mean, it doesn’t really work like that. I was a champion when I was 23 years old, you can’t show up at age 30 pretending like you’ve been chasing me your whole life. I have no clue who 90% of his résumé is, meanwhile, I’ve been highlighting UFC events my entire career. https://t.co/aJdJT8UpGm
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
Jones’ response is the first time he’s directly addressed Aspinall, who was booked in a short-notice interim title fight against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 this past November. The interim title bout came together in large part to fill the void left by Jones and Miocic after they were pulled from the card.
At the time, Aspinall was riding a one-fight win streak after he returned from his only loss in the UFC, which happened following a torn ACL he suffered during a showdown with Curtis Blaydes.
After knocking Pavlovich out to win the interim belt, Aspinall expressed his desire to eventually clash with Jones one day but his rhetoric has ramped up in recent days. He previously got a response from Miocic, who told the outspoken Brit that he never caused a delay in booking the Jones fight but “once I get this win, let’s talk to unify the belt.”
Despite Aspinall’s calls to skip over Miocic to face Jones next, White has repeatedly stated that he has no desire to alter the UFC’s plans. Jones will still face Miocic once he’s healthy again and Aspinall could potentially stay busy against a different opponent.
At least Aspinall knows he got Jones’ attention, although he probably didn’t get the response he wanted.
Update: Aspinall responded to Jones Tuesday morning.
Jon you’re letting your ego run wild here mate. I’m not downplaying you’re résumé, it’s incredible. Far superior to mine. You are known as the best fighter ever, and that’s EXACTLY why I want to beat you. Surely you can understand that? https://t.co/jCo4Obz9pY
— Tom Aspinall (@AspinallMMA) January 9, 2024
Jon Jones: “you need to fight people who build your legacy”
Me: “great idea. Absolutely”
UFC: “do you wanna fight Tom?”
Stipe: “no”
Jon: “no”
Me: “
— Tom Aspinall (@AspinallMMA) January 9, 2024
Update: Jones responded to Aspinall.
I love how a fighter can do an interview about me every week, make silly memes on the Internet. And then, when I respond, they play the victim role. Lol
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
Tom, you talking about someone’s ego running wild is one of the most hypocritical things ever., You literally haven’t kept my balls out of your mouth since you won that imaginary championship. Both you and Serge have zero championships between your name. It’s funny that you…
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
My stipe fight was booked well before yours came along, you weren’t even the back up fighter.. Trust me you’re the one who is coming around here with the inflated ego and entitlement. That intern championship means absolutely nothing if you seriously haven’t noticed yet. All your…
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
Literally, the same thing, different year. It’s always the fighter who’s not technically next in line who talks the most shit. Usually crickets from the guy who is actually next with the contract signed https://t.co/WEVK3fx5jZ
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
Yep, I’m terrified. No matter who would’ve won that interim, championship, the narrative still would be the same. The goat is getting older now, and is running from fights. 36-year-old lifelong champion starting to contemplate retirement. What a chicken. https://t.co/yCc6YNG2QM
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
What I refuse to do is be like a lot of these other fighters who stuck around too long. That just won’t happen. Your boy Bones Jones over here, despite what a lot of people may like to think. Ive set myself up pretty well in life. I want Stipe for my résumé, outside of that, I…
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
I’m not saying that, what I am saying is, coming back from two different surgeries, and defeating Stipe is my primary goal, and a huge feat if you ask me. We both have already agreed to massive contracts, a win for either one of us would be absolutely massive for either of our… https://t.co/lfs4VHZJBE
— BONY (@JonnyBones) January 9, 2024
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