Will Jon Jones Vacate His Heavyweight Championship?
The current UFC Heavyweight Champion and the man most call the greatest fighter of all time, Jon Jones, has been under fire for the better half of two years. Jones struck heavyweight gold when he defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in 2023. Up to that point, many already considered “Bones” the greatest fighter of all time. Becoming only the ninth fighter in UFC history to become a champion in two divisions solidified those claims.
Jon Jones last fought at UFC 309 against heavyweight legend Stipe Miocic. Jones put together one of the best performances of his career, completely dominating Miocic and earning a third-round stoppage. The fight, however, was riddled with controversy. This would be Miocic’s first fight since 2021 when he was on the wrong side of a brutal knockout against Francis Ngannou. A three-year layoff mixed with the fact that Miocic was now 42 years old heading into his fight with Jones, and many considered this fight unnecessary.
UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall has been the number-one contender to Jon Jones for two years now. However, it seems the super-fight may never come to fruition. When Jones vs. Miocic was announced for UFC 309, fans were quick to convey their disinterest. Fans clamored for Aspinall to get his deserved title shot instead of Miocic. The fight between Jones and Miocic ultimately went through, but nothing has changed. If there is one thing that UFC fans around the globe can agree on, it’s that a fight between Jones and Aspinall must happen.
Speculation began to spread after Jones' victory against Miocic that he would finally step into the Octagon against Aspinall at UFC 317. Though months would go by without a fight contract signed, and with Jon Jones requiring six months to train for Aspinall, a UFC 317 showdown seems highly unlikely. With frustration brewing among Tom Aspinall’s camp along with the UFC fanbase, many are calling for Jon Jones to vacate his Heavyweight Championship. Ironically, vacating the UFC Heavyweight Championship might be what the champion wants to do.
Jon Jones has not been shy about his desire to battle Alex Pereira. Jones, who has made it clear he is in the last chapter of his fighting career, obviously wants the big money that comes with fighting “Poatan.” It also seems that the stars have aligned for this fight to happen. Alex Pereira recently lost his UFC Light Heavyweight Championship, meaning he wouldn’t be holding up his division by moving up to challenge Jones. If Jon Jones were to fight Alex Pereira, it would almost certainly mean Jones would vacate his Heavyweight Championship. Tom Aspinall has stated that he won’t defend his interim championship again, and why should he? If Jon Jones decides that a fight with Tom Aspinall is not in his future and opts for a fight with Pereira instead, then vacating his UFC Heavyweight Championship is the logical thing to do.
