Jon Jones continues to conflict with himself on his UFC future and a possible fight with Tom Aspinall.
MMA fans have been clamouring to see Jones and Aspinall duke it out in the Octagon for the best part of 18 months.
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Aspinall picked up the interim heavyweight title all the way back in November 2023 when he flattened Sergei Pavlovich in the first round at UFC 295.
The belt was brought into play after Jones tore his pectoral muscle during the lead-up to his first title defence against Stipe Miocic.
When the fight eventually took place 12 months later, Jones easily dispatched the grizzled veteran while Aspinall defended his belt in the meantime against Curtis Blaydes.
UFC president Dana White then informed the media that the long-awaited unification clash would come next, but six months on from Jones’ last outing and we are no closer to getting the fight over the line.
Jones sent the MMA world into a frenzy on Tuesday by telling his close friend Kamil Gadzhiev he is ‘done’ after the Russian promoter told him he could fight for another 10 years.
But hours after the footage emerged, Jones emitted mixed messages with a post on his Instagram story.
Jones posted a video of a dog pinning down another canine, with the caption: “Have you ever seen a dog correct another dog like this?”
‘Bones’ wrote underneath it: “What I feel like returning to the UFC after some much-needed downtime.”
The heavyweight champion is currently enjoying a holiday in Thailand and recently uploaded a video of himself drinking coconut water and relaxing in the sun.
One fan responded to his post on X, saying: “Enjoying your last days as champ before being stripped, I see Jon?”
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To which, Jones replied: “Stripped? Lol do I come across as the type of person who cares about things like that?”
Another fan commented: “Yes, otherwise you’d have vacated the belt a long time ago because you don’t plan to fight Tom.”
Jones then fired back: “Ya’ll barking up the wrong tree, I told the UFC my plans a long time ago.
“I have no clue why they haven’t shared them with you guys yet.”
When asked what his plans are, Jones added: “To continue to monetise on this amazing brand I’ve created.”
Jones previously expressed a desire to face former two-weight world champion Alex Pereira during the post-fight press conference following his win over Miocic.
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“More than likely not,” Jones said when asked about facing Aspinall. “I feel like Tom Aspinall is – I don’t want to say nobody – but he hasn’t proven anything, he hasn’t done anything.
“I’m not here to gamble on someone else making a name off of me…
“If there were to be a fight with a guy that’s still on our UFC roster, that would be not only financially worth it but legacy worth it, it would be Alex Pereira.
“Alex Pereira and I, we’re both 37 years old. Right now I weigh about 235 [pounds]. I’m an incredibly light heavyweight.
“I think Pereira walks around at 240. I think that fight would go much farther on my legacy than a young man who’s cool today and maybe gone tomorrow.”
Pereira has lost his UFC light heavyweight title to Magomed Ankalaev since those comments were made and has spoken openly about moving up to heavyweight.
