UFC CEO Dana White on Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall: 'It's done, but it's not done'
UFC CEO Dana White has revealed that Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall is close to the finish line.
White has spent the months since Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC) defended his heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November claiming that he would make good on booking a unification bout with interim champion Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC).
There has been impatience displayed by Aspinall and the fans waiting for an answer on whether Jones would agree to the fight or vacate and retire, allowing Aspinall to become undisputed champion.
White, however, has been largely steadfast in his confidence it would get done, recently telling MMA Junkie that he’s focused on a summer timeline. Now he’s dropped another promising teaser, claiming that the only remaining object – albeit a massively significant one – is putting pen to paper.
“It’s going to happen,” White told TNT Sports on Friday. “It’s done, but it’s not done. Not done enough to sit right here now and announce it and give you a date. But fight’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of getting it signed now.
“If we pull this off and actually make the fight, announce it and start leading up to it, this will be the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history.”
In December, White said he 100 percent guaranteed everyone would get what they want and Jones would face Aspinall in the highly anticipated contest. The primary question, though, was whether Jones in particular would get what he wants.
After stating he wanted “f*ck you money” to fight Aspinall after UFC 309, the rumored and unconfirmed price tag demands from Jones have be tabbed at as high as $30 million.
Whatever is ultimately negotiated remains to be seen, but White once against expressed stern adamance that the heavyweight title picture will get its resolution sooner than later.
“I said it when we first started talking about it and I’ve said it many times in between, and I’ll say it now,” White said. “The fight’s going to happen.”