Dana White was all the time assured he may put collectively the battle between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, however now he’s taken issues one step additional.
On Saturday evening, following the ultimate UFC occasion of the yr in Tampa, the UFC CEO provided an absolute assure that Jones vs. Aspinall goes to occur in 2025, and he expects that battle to interrupt data when two champions lastly collide.
“Yeah, I’ll say 100% [guaranteed],” White stated when requested about Jones vs. Aspinall. “100% [it’s a priority]. I feel it’s in all probability the largest battle in heavyweight historical past, and it’s a large within the historical past of the corporate, too. It’s a giant battle.”
That’s a daring proclamation from White, who normally doesn’t supply up that stage of confidence until he’s already received a contract in hand so it speaks volumes in regards to the plans surrounding Jones vs. Aspinall heading into the New 12 months.
Even earlier than Jones dominated and completed Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November, White anticipated that the winner of that battle would transfer onto face Aspinall in a title unification bout. Following Jones’ lopsided victory, he downplayed his curiosity in preventing Aspinall and as a substitute prompt a showdown in opposition to UFC gentle heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.
White instantly shot down these plans and he remained steadfast that Jones would finally come round to simply accept the Aspinall battle regardless of how a lot he says in any other case.
“It’s bizarre,” White stated about Jones. “Let me inform you what’s bizarre about that. So normally these guys say that shit behind the scenes and never publicly. Jon says that shit publicly however not behind the scenes. Jon is a really distinctive particular person to take care of.”
Jones’ largest criticism in regards to the battle boils all the way down to Aspinall’s lack of massive battle expertise the place a win wouldn’t actually add a lot to his resume and general legacy.
Whereas Aspinall sports activities a powerful 8-1 report within the UFC, he’s solely competed in two interim title fights and that pales compared to Jones’ practically unblemished resume, which incorporates victories in 16 championship bouts.
That stated, Aspinall is broadly thought-about the highest heavyweight within the sport, which features a blistering ending price with just one battle making it previous the primary spherical out of his eight wins within the UFC.
As a lot as Jones might protest publicly, White stands by his perception that when push involves shove, he’ll be capable to get a deal carried out to make the battle in opposition to Aspinall earlier than 2025 concludes.
“From day one, I’ve been assured that Jon Jones would try this battle,” White stated. “I imply even earlier than the battle, I stated if he gained, there’s no manner Jon doesn’t do that battle. Jon Jones isn’t afraid to battle anyone and that’s a truth. The one time that something remotely bizarre has ever occurred with Jon Jones is the time that his f*cking camp did the bizarre Chael Sonnen factor. ‘We will’t battle Chael Sonnen on quick discover.’ That wasn’t him. That was his workforce, and he listened to his workforce for no matter motive.
“However that’s just like the goofiest f*cking transfer within the historical past of the UFC. However apart from that, Jon Jones behind the scenes will not be a man that turns down fights.”
