Tom Aspinall Calls for Jon Jones to Be Stripped of UFC Heavyweight Title

Tom Aspinall firmly believes Jon Jones should be stripped of the Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight strap.

Aspinall recently secured interim heavyweight champion status after defeating Russian powerhouse Sergei Pavlovich within 69 seconds of their short notice-meeting at UFC 295.

The original matchup that was scheduled to headline the event was a heavyweight bout between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic. Unfortunately, Jones suffered a pectoral tear a few weeks ahead of the bout and was forced to pull out. Instead of offering a replacement opponent to Miocic, the promotion elected to put on an interim heavyweight title bout between Aspinall and Pavlovich on the grounds that offering Miocic an interim title fight would be “disrespectful.”

However, unlike Jiri Prochazkha or Jamahal Hill, there was no mention of Jones relinquishing the title due to his inability to compete for a considerable amount of time. Instead, as per UFC CEO Dana White, Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic remains a priority for the promotion considering its status as a "legacy fight: The greatest heavyweight of all time vs. greatest mixed martial artist of all time."

Nevertheless, Aspinall doesn't see why a legacy fight should involve the undisputed championship when he has already earned himself a shot at the undisputed title.

“I think Jon Jones should be stripped from the title to be honest, because everyone else does when they get injured like that,” Aspinall told Michael Bisping. “I don’t see why he’s still got it. I don’t understand that. I think I should be the real champion right now.

“It’s hard to say without sounding rude, but who’s asked about Jon Jones and Stipe anymore? Why do we get this legacy fight, and they get to live by their own rules? What’s a legacy fight, a retirement fight for a title? I want to fight Stipe and then I want to fight Jon Jones. … I think all this other stuff is rubbish. Stop protecting him now. Stop protecting your boy Jon Jones at the top. If he’s injured, get out of the way and I’ll fight Stipe.”