Jon Jones has revealed the real reason why he hasn't fought Tom Aspinall as the 'uncomfortable' truth has finally come out.
Jones, who hasn't fought since last November, has been in talks to face interim title holder Aspinall in a monstrous UFC unification showdown.
He appeared to call time on his legendary career before making a sensational U-turn, teasing a UFC announcement in the process.
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Aspinall, however, believes 'Bones' is retired and insists he is the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion.
UFC fans are divided over whether Jones and Aspinall will meet inside the famed Octagon.
Some people are under the impression that the American is 'scared' to fight the Brit, who has won eight of his nine UFC bouts.
That sentiment was put forward to Jones on social media.
A fan asked: "You’re scared. Really sad to see from someone who should be the goat."
Jones replied by claiming it has 'nothing to do with fear' and referenced his goal to build his brand away from the UFC.
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"It really has nothing to do with fear," he wrote on X. "The question I asked my close friends and family is how much higher can a person like me climbing this sport. The goal for athletes is to build a brand and then take that brand and become so much more than an athlete. A lot of the fans and fighters are not used to seeing someone go out on top the way I have. I get that it’s uncomfortable and I don’t expect people to understand territories that they’ve never been."
Responding to a fan who said he should be stripped of his UFC title, Jones replied: "I spoke to the UFC a long time ago about what my future plans were. I haven’t really worked out since my last fight in New York City. Honestly, I believe it’s been in the UFC’s best interest to keep presenting me as the company’s champion - not Tom.
"I’ve just been playing the role of the company man by doing nothing at all... and holding the position. And truthfully, it’s been incredibly lucrative. I’ve made more money off of Tom being the interim champ than Tom has himself.
"It sucks to see the rest of the division get slowed down like this, but that has nothing to do with me. I don’t pull the strings."
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A petition has since been launched calling for Jones to be stripped of his UFC belt
The petition was mentioned in last night's UFC 316 pre-fight press conference and fans greeted the question with 'strip Jon Jones' chants.
Jones, who turns 38 next month, hasn't fought since his third-round victory over Stipe Miocic in New York City at UFC 309.
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He has two UFC heavyweight fights to his name, having captured the vacant championship against Ciryl Gane in March 2023.
Aspinall, meanwhile, last fought when he defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in Manchester last July.
He took just 60-seconds to exact revenge over Blaydes following his freak defeat in July 2022.
Topics: Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, UFC
Nasir Jabbar