A former rival suggests UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones isn`t ready to retire just to avoid fighting Tom Aspinall.
The heavyweight division`s title situation remains unclear, with two champions holding belts but only one eager for a unification bout.
While interim champion Tom Aspinall has long expressed his readiness, Jon Jones appears hesitant to face him.
Following his victory over Stipe Miocic last November, many anticipated Jones` retirement. However, UFC CEO Dana White maintains that a fight between Jones and Aspinall will indeed take place.
One of Jones` long-standing adversaries seems to agree with White.
Chael Sonnen believes Jon Jones will fight Tom Aspinall because he hasn’t made ‘walk-away money’
Chael Sonnen, a former two-division UFC title challenger, weighed in on the ongoing heavyweight situation. Sonnen dismissed the retirement speculation surrounding Jones, arguing that the fighter hasn`t accumulated enough wealth to simply walk away from the sport.
Sonnen stated that people preface questions assuming Jones is avoiding Aspinall, but he doesn`t see evidence for that. He believes Jones only has two options: fight Aspinall or stop fighting altogether, and stopping fighting doesn`t make you a good negotiator, it makes you unemployed.
Despite Jones` success, Sonnen contends he hasn`t earned “walk-away money” and isn`t at a point in his career or life where he`d retire.
Jon Jones uncertainty sees Tom Aspinall break unwanted record
The prolonged uncertainty has clearly frustrated Aspinall, whose inactivity since defeating Curtis Blaydes last summer has led to an undesirable UFC record.
Aspinall recently surpassed Renan Barao`s decade-old mark, becoming the longest-reigning interim champion in UFC history, holding the belt for over 534 days.
The Manchester native expressed his disappointment about this record during a YouTube video, stating he wasn`t proud of it. He added that while the interim belt is nice, he had hoped to fight for the undisputed title during his reign.
Aspinall is undoubtedly hoping his time as interim champion concludes soon with a victory over Jones to become the undisputed king.
