UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall reacted live to Jon Jones’ lengthy social media statement in a recent interview.
Former two-division UFC champion Jon Jones nearly broke the internet on Monday when he publicly called for the UFC to release him from his contract. After the UFC excluded Jones from the promotion’s upcoming White House card, Jones went on a fiery rant on social media following UFC CEO Dana White’s remarks at the UFC 326 post-fight press conference.
Jones repeatedly called for a spot on the UFC Freedom 250 card dating back to last summer, when he abruptly announced his retirement before reversing his decision. But White repeatedly dismissed Jones’ pleas, citing Jones’ checkered past outside of the cage as a major cause for concern.
Before retiring, Jones was linked to a heavyweight title unification bout against Tom Aspinall, a fight that never came to fruition following prolonged negotiations. Jones and Aspinall have a colorful history, including Jones trolling Aspinall following the UFC heavyweight champ’s no-contest against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321.
Jones recently accused the UFC matchmakers of ‘lowballing’ him in frantic negotiations to fight at the White House. Despite their strained relationship, Aspinall believes the UFC is in the wrong in its handling of Jones’ demands.
Tom Aspinall questions UFC’s refusal to pay Jon Jones ‘what he deserves’ for White House return
In a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Aspinall reacted to Jones’ lengthy social media statement and call to part ways with the UFC.
“This is probably going to be crazy to a lot of people listening, but why is the UFC not giving Jon the respect he deserves financially? That’s crazy to me,” Aspinall said of Jones.
“If anyone should be getting paid a lot in this sport, it should be Jon Jones for the stuff that he’s done. And that’s me saying that! After the history that I’ve had with Jon Jones.
“They offered him $30 million to fight me. Why don’t they offer it again? I don’t understand.”
As of this writing, White and the UFC brass haven’t issued a public response to Jones’ lengthy social media statement. Jones hasn’t fought since defeating Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.
Is the UFC’s ongoing feud with Jon Jones irreparable? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!