‘It’s his obligation’… Dana White confirms what would happen to Tom Aspinall, should Jon Jones retire after UFC 309

We are now less than 24 hours away from the UFC 309 main event showdown between light heavyweight GOAT Jon 'Bones' Jones and former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic.

But with the UFC heavyweight title fight looming large on the horizon, there remains a very real possibility that the winner of tomorrow night's main event could decide to walk away on top – so what would happen to interim champion Tom Aspinall?

Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC

Dana White confirms what would happen if Jon Jones retires at UFC 309

While Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic may be the main attraction at UFC 309, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has been the talk of the town all fight week.

Not only did 'Bones' walk away from an interview because a reporter was too 'close' to the British juggernaut, but Aspinall himself would claim he was 'blacklisted' from attending major events, just in case the two crossed paths . other.

Earlier today, UFC CEO Dana White confirmed via Kevin Iole that if Jon Jones were to defeat Miocic in tomorrow night's main event, but decided to retire from the sport rather than face Aspinall, the Brit would be promoted to undisputed champion.

“Obviously a guy like Jon Jones has had a career where if he wants to do something, he could do it… But you can't just want to do a 'fun fight' and not fight the interim heavyweight champion – [he’s] the man who is next.

“Because if Jon Jones retires on Saturday, Tom Aspinall would be the heavyweight champion [of the UFC].”

White is said to cite historical reasons why Jones should face Aspinall next, rather than sticking around to secure 'fun fights' like against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

“Opportunities came to Jon Jones when he was 23, the youngest heavyweight champion of all time; now that he sits where he sits, it is his duty to give it [back] to the younger guys, to give him that opportunity.”

That said, if Jones could beat both Miocic and Aspinall, White would jump at the chance to put 'Bones' and 'Poatan' in the octagon together: “If he beats Tom Aspinall, then yes. Alex Pereira fight.”

Dana White Says It's 'Undeniable' Jon Jones Would Be P4P King With Win at UFC 309

It's no secret that Dana White believes with every fiber of his being that Jon Jones is and always has been the best pound-for-pound fighter in history, and the UFC CEO was keen to emphasize this when he spoke to Iole.

“Not if he wins, if you think about it – this guy has never lost a fight in Mixed Martial Arts in 16 years, what's up [left] say? He's beaten all the greats, all the all-time greats… He's the best fighter in the world, pound for pound [if he wins at UFC 309]There's no denying it, it's ridiculous.

Of course, it wouldn't be a Dana White glazing session if he didn't also target Francis Ngannou, who left the UFC as the only true lineal heavyweight champion.

“I'm telling you now: Francis left and went to crazy PFL, where he doesn't have to fight anybody, so he didn't have to fight damn Jon Jones.”

UFC 309: Jones vs Miocic airs live from Madison Square Garden on Saturday, November 16.

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