Jon Jones: I've already defeated Tom Aspinall 'by not even giving him the chance'

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Jon Jones | Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC

Jon Jones had some fun on social media at Tom Aspinall's expense, but we don't seem to be any closer to a fight happening.

Earlier this week, Aspinall—the interim UFC heavyweight champion and No. 1 in the MMA Fighting Global Rankingswished the division's official champ Jones well in "retirement," declared himself the undisputed champion, and essentially publicly moved on from a Jones fight. "Bones" went on Twitter Thursday night and tweeted up a storm, including answering fan questions, and giving his opinion on Aspinall's fighting résumé.

"That's awesome, you guys could use [a heavyweight champion]," Jones replied to a fan who declared Aspinall as the titleholder.

"Unfortunately, my boy is not as special as his fan base thinks he is right now," Jones said of Aspinall. "I've seen Tom get [finished] twice now by two different people. Time will show. Here today gone tomorrow."

Responding to a fan asking Jones how he would defeat Aspinall, Jones declared he already is "by not even giving him the chance" to fight him.

After an over three-year layoff, and vacating the light heavyweight title, Jones returned as a heavyweight in March 2023 when he captured the vacant title with a quick submission of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285. Jones battled injuries that kept him sidelined for nearly two more years, but returned at UFC 309 this past November when he knocked out Stipe Miocic in the third round.

Aspinall is the longest reigning interim champion in UFC history since knocking out Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 in November 2023. The U.K. rising star defended that belt successfully with a 60-second stoppage of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.

Jones continued tweeting about Aspinall and his own fighting future. Unless Jones is playing mind games and messing with the fan base, it doesn't appear as if he is in any hurry to return to competition, whether it's against Aspinall or anybody else.

Jones also added that he holds no "ill will" towards Aspinall, and offered up some advice to the interim champion.

"No, honestly, I wish Tommy no ill will," Jones said. "He is no threat to me whatsoever, he should start with just trying to be the best heavyweight of all time, that goal would be plenty. My career is on a completely different planet if we're being honest. I really don't hate on other fighters, I'm usually just responding to their envy."

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