The UFC’s heavyweight division has always been a place where legends are made and broken, but few sagas have sparked as much frustration and intrigue as Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall. For more than a year, fans have been anticipating the showdown between the renowned ‘Bones’ and the British powerhouse who rose through the ranks with speed and skill.

What seemed like an obvious next step for the division ended up being one of its most perplexing puzzles. Now, as Aspinall prepares to defend his undisputed title for the first time against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, the same question lingers: why did the Jones fight, the one everyone wanted, never happen? Let’s find out!

The real reason why Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall didn’t happen

Jones vs. Aspinall wasn’t just another dream matchup; it was intended to usher in a new era of heavyweights. When Jon Jones defeated Ciryl Gane in March 2023 to win the vacant title, it felt like the beginning of something big. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall was dominating the division, winning the interim title in November 2023. Unification seemed inevitable. ‘Bones,’ however, faded away rather than stepping up. After an injury forced him to postpone his fight against Stipe Miocic, he exhibited little hurry to return and even less enthusiasm in facing the younger, faster, and perhaps more dangerous Aspinall.

Jon Jones‘ reasons for avoiding the fight have been inconsistent at best and dismissive at worst. In one of his numerous social media posts, he questioned what a Tom Aspinall fight would mean for his legacy, calling it a “risk without reward.”

He wrote, “We finally found someone who may give me a great challenge… but for me, what’s in it for me?” Instead, Jones hinted at challenging light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira, stating that defeating someone with “more accolades” would be more significant. To fans, it appeared that the champion was avoiding a true challenge to pursue easier, more profitable matches.

Things only got worse during Jones’ extended absence. While Aspinall worked out and defended his interim title, ‘Bones’ shared cryptic videos from Thailand, joking about “stuffing my face every day” while still dropping weight. When a fan asked if he feared being stripped of his title, he responded, “Do I come across as the type of person who cares about things like that?”

Earlier, it used to be interpreted as charismatic arrogance, but now it appeared more like disinterest. By early 2025, about 200,000 fans had signed a petition urging the UFC to strip him of his heavyweight throne. Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall handled the situation with professionalism and optimism. He even met with UFC executives earlier this year, convinced that the long-awaited fight would happen.

“After the meeting, I’m feeling very optimistic about things,” he said. “There’s some big news coming.” However, months passed with no official announcement. Behind the scenes, Dana White reportedly verified that Jon Jones had verbally accepted the fight but then backed out without reason. In public, White remained calm but firm: “Jon agreed to fight Tom, fact. But you can’t make people fight. If Jon doesn’t want to fight, we can’t make him.”

That harsh reality summarized the entire matter. Jones’ ego and personal goal had overcome his desire to compete. Even as Tom Aspinall solidified his position as the legitimate heavyweight king by defending his interim title, the shadow of Jones’ avoidance lingered. It wasn’t about injury, time, or negotiations; it was a legend reluctant to stake his reputation against someone capable of defeating him.

Will Aspinall vs. Jones happen in the future?

At this stage, a Jones vs. Aspinall bout appears to be wishful thinking rather than reality. Dana White has attempted to keep the door open by stressing that the matchup was offered and accepted once, but his tone has changed. “You can’t make people fight,” he said after UFC 316. “We’ll figure it out, Tom Aspinall’s the guy.” Behind that hope, however, was frustration.

Jones has spent more time taunting fans and flirting with a PFL fight against Francis Ngannou, which the UFC would never allow, than focusing on the guy who was a legitimate contender waiting in the ranks. Finally, in June, out of the blue, Jon Jones announced his retirement. However, when the announcement of a UFC event at White House emerged, he jumped at it. For Dana White, though, it was all too late. Even Jones’ apology to White, in which he reportedly texted, “Sorry how this all played out; I want to fight at the White House,” was dismissed. The UFC CEO’s response was cold and final: “I need people I can count on, and I know who they are and who they are not.” That comment said it all.

While the UFC CEO continues to call ‘Bones’ the best of all time, he has also stated that greatness is no longer enough. “Jon’s the GOAT,” he said. “But he’s not the guy you can count on.” So, will Jones vs. Aspinall ever happen? Probably not. Tom Aspinall has moved on, embracing his status as undisputed champion and driving the division forward. Jones, at 38, is a remnant of the past, an unrivaled genius clinging to power over the narrative. If he returns, it might be too late. The sport has moved on, and for the first time, the UFC heavyweight division no longer revolves around Jon Jones.