A significant number of fans have initiated a campaign aimed at dethroning Jon Jones from his heavyweight championship. The petition, which has already surpassed 100,000 signees, reflects the growing dissatisfaction born from the continual postponement of the hotly anticipated Jon Jones-Tom Aspinall face-off, which is yet to be officially scheduled.
To add to the intensifying tension, Alexander Volkov, a heavyweight contender in UFC, has stepped up to express his readiness to vie for a title shot, if the awaited match keeps getting delayed or fails to come off entirely. To say that this uncertainty is causing frustration within the fanbase and amongst UFC fighters would be an understatement.
Accusations have been flying thick and fast with many condemning Jon Jones, the current heavyweight champion, for seemingly dodging a contest against Tom Aspinall, the English fighter. Seeing a potential opening in the situation, Volkov is keenly positioning himself for an opportunity at the title shot.
As we approach the terminus for solidifying summer fight cards, it is now clear that a summer match between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is off the cards. However, hope is still alive for the potential of this greatly awaited face-off to take place before the year runs out.
It’s been quite a while since Tom Aspinall stepped into the ring, with his previous match, where he clinched the interim heavyweight title, dating as far back as November 11, 2023. Despite being in possession of the belt for more than 500 days, Aspinall is yet to spar with Jon Jones in a championship unifying bout.
With the uncertainty surrounding the eventual return of Jones, seasoned MMA campaigner, Matt Brown, has advised Aspinall to sidestep the pitfall that ensnarled Michael Chandler. The admonishment was to avoid remaining inactive while pursuing a high-profile fight.
Brown drew parallels between Aspinall’s situation and that of Michael Chandler with Conor McGregor, emphasizing the need to simply ‘go fight’. In his words, a robust case is built on action rather than idle time. If you find yourself waiting in the wings, your reputation does not necessarily gain strength.
In Brown’s perspective, constant activity is crucial to keep the momentum going and carve a notable legacy in MMA fighting. As the online face-off between Aspinall and Jones continues to generate steam, fans are left in suspense, anxiously anticipating when and if the final announcement for the much-awaited fight will indeed be made.