Tom Aspinall is confident Jon Jones will be his next opponent.
The UFC heavyweight champion did everything he could to distance himself from a clash with Aspinall before scoring an impressive knockout win over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on November 16.
Jon Jones called up Alex Pereira after defending his title for the first time, but Dana White insisted he should face the interim heavyweight champion next.
Talks have been ongoing since then and have left Tom Aspinall optimistic that he will finally get his long-awaited shot at the real UFC heavyweight title in 2025.
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Tom Aspinall believes Jon Jones fight is 'very likely'
Tom Aspinall recently had an exclusive interview with Bloodyelbow.com.
The 31-year-old kept his cards close to his chest as he discussed behind-the-scenes conversations currently taking place that left him feeling good about his chances of fighting Jon Jones soon.
“I'm very confident this will happen,” Aspinall said.
'Obviously I have to keep a lot of things secret. I've had conversations with the higher-ups in the UFC and they are confident that this will happen.
“I don't know from Jon's side, but I do know from my side and the UFC side it's very likely.”
Aspinall also discussed his rival's victory over Miocic. The Englishman sat cageside and watched Jones land a crushing body kick in the third round of the UFC 309 main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“I was very impressed with him,” Aspinall added. “The place where he kicked it, the position in the Octagon, was close enough arm's length from where I was sitting. It was right next to me. It was right over my side of the Octagon, and it was brutal.
“Both boys are tired. To have one while you were already breathing heavily must have been horrible.”
Jon Jones gives an update on his fighting future
Jon Jones suggested he would retire if he didn't face Alex Pereira next time.
However, he now appears to be on board with the idea of possibly fighting Tom Aspinall instead.
“Right now, the UFC and I are in discussions to see what happens next,” Jones recently told The Schmo.
“I'm back in the gym, I'm training, I feel really great. The support of the team, they are right behind me, and we will be ready for any opportunity that comes our way.
“There is one [money figure]but I'm not going to talk about that publicly. We'll just have to wait and see. I will more than likely participate in 2025.”
MMA fans now have to wait and see if Jones, Aspinall and the UFC top brass can agree on fight terms.
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