Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall, the heavyweight champ and the interim heavyweight champ, finally met each other in an event after months of back and forth on social media and in interviews. The duo is on a collision course for a heavyweight clash, but when? We don’t know. And despite their friendly meeting, Jones seems to be keeping the banter alive.

The heavyweight champ took to his Instagram handle to add a collection of photos from the event. But there’s a catch. He left out perhaps the most important (for fight fans at least) person he met at the event – Tom Aspinall. And the reason Jones gave for leaving Aspinall out of the post was a cheeky jibe at the Brit.

Jon Jones keeps the banter alive

Months after their constant banter, Jones and Aspinall met in Birmingham. Jones was there over the weekend for a meet-and-greet with fans at the Arnold Sports Festival. The first thing Aspinall did after meeting Jones was his signature hand-on-shoulder move, which he does ahead of his fights. However, Jones was smart enough to not let that slide.

Now, days after their meet, Jones has uploaded photos from that event on his Instagram handle. However, he purposely left Aspinall out from the album. When one of the fans asked “Ain’t no damn Asspinall pic”, Jones responded with a hilarious answer. He wrote, “I didn’t have enough space on the reel to post any of the fan photos, sry.“

When the pair ran into each other, the interim champion was as cordial as he could be. He inquired after Jones’ shoulder injury and his recovery, adding “I would love to have the honor one day,” about potentially fighting ‘Bones.’ “Maybe one day,” was the American’s answer.

Aspinall has been chirpy on the internet about fighting for the title, but he has also tried to be respectful of Jones, giving due credit to his accolades. But the 30-year-old is holding the interim belt as mere decoration if he cannot fight for the title next.

Jones seems to be marching to the beat of his own drum while ͏not prioritising the interim champion. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall, on the other hand, thinks that it would take him no effort to defeat͏ the youngest champion in UFC history, Jon Jones.

Tom Aspinall has Jones sized up!

Tom Aspinall is fed up with everyone in the division ‘ducking’ him. After their initial meeting, Aspinall was flabbergasted by the fact that Jones was not as much of a big person as the media portrays him to be. Aspinall, in a statement, said, “He’s nowhere near as big as I thought,” Aspinall said, “I thought he was a lot taller.”

He further added, “But I guess when you fight at light heavyweight for your whole career, and you’re 6’4″, you look really tall. But I’m a full-blown heavyweight. There’s no chance he’s beating me. Size doesn’t matter really. We’re both massive guys. But I’ll take him. I bet I’ll beat him, definitely.”

Aspinall is demanding a fight with either Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic but neither seems willing to face the young talent for a matchup next. It would be interesting to witness the destiny of the heavyweight division, as Jones is close to recovery. What are your thoughts on Jones’s jibe at Aspinall? State your thoughts in the comments below.

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