It’s not just Tom Aspinall that’s had enough of waiting around for Jon Jones. In a recent appearance on the High Performance Podcast, the interim heavyweight champion stated, “I’m well bored of [the Jones conversation]. I’ve had enough.” And can you blame him? Jones has been out of action since defending his undisputed belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Moreover, the Englishman recently broke the record for the longest reigning interim champion in UFC history with his reign crossing 550 days.

And so far, there have been no signs of a unification bout on the horizon. Now, Curtis Blaydes, ranked No. 5 in the heavyweight division, has come out with a bold statement. In a post on his Instagram story, shared by Championship Rounds, the heavyweight contender wrote, “Jon should be stripped. End of discussion.” Blunt, bold, and brutally honest. After all, while the MMA world waits for ‘Bones’, Aspinall has been doing what champions are supposed to do: fight!

He even defended the interim title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 and avenged his previous loss to ‘Razor’ from 2022. Yet, the real title still feels out of reach. Why? Because the undisputed champion hasn’t budged one bit. Jon Jones, for his part, hasn’t stayed completely quiet, though. In a recent Instagram Live session, he clapped back at critics calling him a “duck.” With a grin, he brushed off the hate as he stated, “I don’t know if it’s considered ducking when you’re living good.”

But does luxury really excuse inactivity? That’s the burning question. The belt may be around his waist, but the cage remains empty. As such, the MMA fandom rallied behind Curtis Blaydes, and the ball is now firmly in Dana White and the UFC’s court. Here’s a look at what the netizens had to say!

Fans back Curtis Blaydes as Dana White faces calls to strip Jon Jones of the undisputed heavyweight title

One fan wrote: “It’s true though lol you got dudes waiting to fight.” The sentiment couldn’t be clearer. The heavyweight division isn’t short on talent. But it is short on activity. With his reign hitting 801 days, Jon Jones is closing in on the record held by Cain Velasquez for the longest heavyweight reign in UFC history. Fighters like Tom Aspinall, Curtis Blaydes, Ciryl Gane, and Alexander Volkov are all circling like wolves. But if the champ won’t unify the belts, the hunt goes nowhere. Is it time for Dana White to step in and make the call? What do you think?

Another added, “Heavyweight division is in the dirt.” A harsh statement, but not far from reality. With no unified title in the division, fans feel like they’ve been placed in limbo along with Tom Aspinall. While the UFC and White have previously stripped champions due to inactivity, Jones seems to be avoiding the same fate. The question is, why?

One fan added, “Yes, absolutely, finally someone else other than the interim champs sayin something.” That’s the thing, Aspinall’s been sounding the alarm for months. In his High Performance Podcast appearance, the interim champion also shared, “We either need to fight, or I need to move on to something else.” But now that Curtis Blaydes is joining in, the message feels louder and much stronger.

One more fan claimed, “Once Tom successfully defended the interim title, I no longer recognized Jon as the undisputed world heavyweight champion.” That’s a powerful shift. The word ‘undisputed’ loses its meaning if the champ refuses to prove it. Aspinall has done everything right. If the belt represents the best in the division, then the man holding it should be willing to back that up. Right?

Yet another fan responded: “But he ain’t and it is what it is, not his fault. It’s the companies.” This one hits differently. It shifts blame away from Jones and points the finger at the UFC. Is the promotion protecting its golden goose? After all, Dana White has always been hesitant to stir the pot when it comes to ‘Bones’.

In conclusion, the fans aren’t just restless, they’re reaching a boiling point, especially after Curtis Blades’ bold remark. The heavyweight throne shouldn’t be guarded by silence and stalled negotiations. Whether it’s time for Dana White to finally make a move or for Jon Jones to silence the doubters with his fists, one thing is crystal clear: the division and the fandom can’t wait forever.

So what happens next? Will the UFC and Dana White continue to ignore Jon Jones’s absence, or will they restore the meaning of the “undisputed” heavyweight title? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!