UFC Heavyweight champion, Jon Jones, has revealed that a potential match up against Tom Aspinall is ‘definitely not off the table’ but his focus is fully on coming back from his injury and facing Stipe Miocic.
Jones sat down with Submission Radio to discuss his plans moving forward, how his injury is healing up
Jones and Miocic were scheduled to meet at UFC 295 but Jones was forced to withdraw from the contest after tearing his pectoral muscle. Although nothing has been made official, Jones has made it extremely clear that he want’s Miocic to be the man opposite him when he returns to the octagon. He said:
“Right now. I think it's definitely going to be Stipe. Stipe and I have both been in the sport for a long time. I don't think Stipe is getting the respect that he deserves. Me and Stipe have unfinished business and I think that's the only fair thing to do. I'm excited for Tom and his future.
“You know, I can't say that I'm really going to base whether I continue to fight and how I compete against Stipe or how I heal up from this injury. You know, I can blow Stipe out of the water or it could be an absolute war. And I feel like I need to take one step at a time before seeing what I do next.”
Having been sidelined for a lengthy period of time, the division moved forward and Tom Aspinall was crowned the interim Heavyweight champion at UFC 295. Although not ruling out the bout all together, Jones admits he has just got to take everything one day at a time.
“But the title fight is definitely not off the table, especially with have been feeling being out here. Like I feel just totally reinvigorated and just re-energized. Just being around all these fans. And so I'm like, I can't just walk away. So the ball is rolling in a very positive direction for the career to continue.”
Discussing what may be next for the champion, Jones is just going to take his time and assess options as he moves forward.
“People dont really acknowledge that and there always will be another awesome contender. And it's my job to realize when you are enough and you have done enough, you've provided for your family, you know, you've created a life for your people. And so I don't know. I really don't know what's going to be next. I'm just taking it one thing at a time.
“That's my respect to Stipe. It's just to take it one thing at a time and to respect him as a challenge that he will be.”
