Current UFC interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, with his confident trash talk since earlier this year, may not have secured a fight against the division kingpin Jon Jones. However, his remarks and behavior have been enough to irritate the champion. ‘Bones’ is now just a week away from what is rumored to be his final professional mixed martial arts fight in ‘The Big Apple’ where, for the first time in his career, he will compete at the iconic MSG event, defending his heavyweight crown against Stipe Miocic.

‘Bones’ is determined to leave nothing to chance for this fight, but his focus has consistently been diverted by the Brit and his taunts, which have seemingly gotten under his skin. Although, Jon Jones has dismissed all of these mind games and instead is focused on the legacy bout. However, his irritation became apparent in a recent interview with the New York Post’s Scott Fontana, who took a jab at ‘Bones’, asking what it would take for him to agree to fight Aspinall.

Jon Jones interrupted, saying, “Really nothing, you know? I find him annoying. I mean, he just… I’ve been here for so long.” He also criticized Aspinall’s approach toward newer fighters, asking, “If he wanted to fight me, he could have been here. I was like, ‘Where have you been all this time?’ At the end of the day, he has no real standout legacy. I think the only guy he beat was Andrei Arlovski, and Andrei was very old at the time.”

‘Bones’ further shut down any notion that he would accept Aspinall’s challenge, expressing satisfaction with his long, successful career and leaving nothing left to prove. Even though a Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight is still far from being a realistic possibility, it remains the center of attention for many fight fans and analysts who want to see it happen at any cost.

However, one person whose opinion stands out is UFC middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis, who recently shared his thoughts on the potential matchup, stating that he doesn’t believe it should happen. Let’s explore why Du Plessis felt compelled to weigh in on this highly anticipated heavyweight clash.

Why Dricus Du Plessis opposes Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

When Tom Aspinall defeated Sergei Pavlovich for interim gold at UFC 295 — on the same card originally set to feature the much-anticipated Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic showdown — the landscape of the heavyweight division shifted. Following an injury to Jones, the fight was rescheduled for UFC 309 in November 2024, and Pavlovich and Aspinall were tapped to replace the original headliners on the UFC 295 card. Throughout the year, countless fan petitions and pleas have poured in, all calling for what could be the biggest heavyweight clash in UFC history.

However, Dricus Du Plessis holds a different opinion from most, especially since he knows both Aspinall and Jones personally. He can’t bear the thought of seeing his two favorite fighters clash in the octagon, as one would have to suffer a defeat.

In a recent conversation with Shaquille Majouri, Du Plessis shared his thoughts, saying, “I don’t need to see Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones. I love both of them. Tom Aspinall is such an awesome guy. I met Jones quickly, amazing. Massive guy, someone I look up to as a martial artist… I look up to Tom Aspinall so much. I just don’t need to see that fight. For me, it’s a lose-lose situation.”

What are your thoughts on Tom Aspinall’s behavior? Do you feel that, with his recent actions, he may lack the maturity to continue to bring up Jon Jones’ name, especially considering ‘Bones’ is not currently active in the fight scene? What’s your opinion on this?