Jon Jones has been given an ultimatum by the UFC about Tom Aspinall, says insider: "There is nobody else"

A UFC insider recently claimed that the MMA promotion has pressed Jon Jones to commit to a potential fight against Tom Aspinall. 'Bones' successfully defended his heavyweight title with a third-round TKO victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. Since then, there has been widespread speculation about who his next opponent might be.

Naturally, interim heavyweight champion Aspinall would be the rightful contender for a shot at the undisputed title. However, Jones has consistently shown little desire to face the Brit. Despite this, Dana White has remained enthusiastic about bringing this highly anticipated matchup to life, and according to Chael Sonnen, the UFC CEO seems very determined to make it happen.

During a recent episode of ESPN's Good Guy / Bad Guy, Sonnen asserted that the UFC has cornered Jones, leaving him with no choice but to face Aspinall or consider retirement:

I'll let you know what UFC stands. Jon has two choices: you fight Tom or you do not fight. There is nobody else is going to be offered. In fact, we've got a name that came off the board in terms of Alex Pereira. Dana put that to absolute rest, and when the oddsmakers put it as a 6-to-1 spread favoring Jones, that fight is gone."

He added:

"So Jon can sit out and not fight, but he's not going to be in a spot where he could fight someone else. It's basically retire or fight Tom Aspinall."

Check out Chael Sonnen's comments below (27:08):

Jones went as far as to suggest that he would rather forfeit the heavyweight title than compete in a unification bout with Aspinall. Instead, the New Yorker has shown a deep fascination with the prospect of a super fight against reigning UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. However, that matchup now appears increasingly unlikely to materialize.

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Jon Jones shares crucial updates on his return to UFC octagon

Ahead of his UFC 309 showdown with Stipe Miocic, Jon Jones hinted that his future in the sport might hinge on his performance against the former champion. With that victory now in the books, 'Bones' seems eager to make his return to the octagon.

During a recent interview with The Schmo, Jones said that he is in active negotiations with the UFC for his next fight and plans to return to action in 2025, provided everything falls into place:

"Right now, the UFC and I, we're in negotiations. We're in talks to see what happens next. I'm back in the gym. I'm training. I feel really great. The team's support is right behind me. And we'll just be ready for whatever opportunity comes our way... I will be competing in 2025, more than likely."

Check out Jon Jones' comments below (1:58):