Unexpected response from Aspinall to a potential altercation with Jones near the White House.
Tom Aspinall, the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, has made it clear that he is not interested in a potential fight with Jon Jones, especially in the proposed UFC event at the White House in 2026. Aspinall is fully focused on defending his title against Ciryl Gane at UFC 321, dismissing any talk of a Jones matchup as "boring" and "false hope" [1][4].
Jones, who retired in June 2025 after defeating Stipe Miocic, has expressed optimism about returning to active competition. However, Dana White, the UFC president, has downplayed Jones’s participation chances at the planned White House event, considering them very slim [1][3].
Jones's potential return and fight with Aspinall may depend on Aspinall solidifying his status with more wins, making the fight more significant and motivating for Jones. Keith Jardine, an ex-teammate of Jones, theorizes that Jones wants a meaningful, high-stakes fight rather than just another title defense with little perceived challenge or hype [2][5].
The UFC's planned White House event in 2026 is still tentative, with no confirmed main event, and Jones’s involvement is uncertain. The location of the planned tournament has not been specified. A tournament is planned on the White House lawn in 2026, potentially involving UFC, but no further details about the four major UFC tournaments have been announced.
Meanwhile, Aspinall is not concerned with American politics and has made it clear that he thinks American fighters should fight at the White House. However, he has expressed a lack of interest in a potential fight with Jones [1][4].
References:
[1] Helwani, A. (2025). The MMA Hour. [Podcast episode].
[2] Jardine, K. (2025). Interview with ESPN MMA.
[3] White, D. (2025). UFC Unfiltered podcast.
[4] Aspinall, T. (2025). Interview with Sports Illustrated.
[5] Jones, J. (2025). Interview with ESPN MMA.
Bookmakers may discuss potential fights between retiring UFC star Jon Jones and current heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, should Jones return to the ring, considering Jones's previous wins and Aspinall's undefeated record in mixed-martial-arts. Jones's potential comeback, fueled by the desire for a highly significant and challenging bout, could place mixed-martial-arts events, including the proposed UFC event at the White House in 2026, within bookmakers' future predictions.
