Dana White makes worrying Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall admission after giving into UFC icon’s X-rated demands
DANA WHITE has made a worrying admission over the proposed super-fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall.
The UFC brass have been trying to finalise a historic heavyweight title unification bout between the pair since last November.
Jones’ demanding of “F**K YOU MONEY” to unify the belts was a hurdle many thought would scupper the contest, although the UFC brass have met his sensational demands.
The mammoth melee has, frustratingly, yet to come to fruition as Jones has publicly toyed with the prospect of retirement.
And White admits the fate of the fight is ultimately in the hands of the former long-reigning light-heavyweight champion.
When asked about the prospect of a shock bout between Jones and ex-champ Francis Ngannou, White insisted: “It’s Aspinall’s fight.
“I mean, we’ve been talking to this kid about it forever and it’s his fight.
“Listen, you can’t make people fight, if Jon doesn’t want to fight, you can’t make him fight.
“We can try to make him fight, we can throw things at him that inspire him to want to fight, but we’ll figure it out.”
According to White, former pound-for-pound king Jones “AGREED” to put off retirement to share the octagon with Brit bruiser Aspinall.
“Jon Jones agreed to do the fight,” he said. “Jon Jones was offered the deal and accepted the deal. Jon agreed to fight Tom, yes.
“You guys have heard me for the last however long, ‘I guarantee this fight is going to happen. This fight’s going to happen.’
“You guys told me the crazy s**t that’s going on Instagram, and all these other places, but yes, I’ve been saying Jon is going to fight Tom.”
White has faced a deluge of calls – including a 200,000-people-strong petition – to strip Jones of his heavyweight crown.
But Jones recently hinted he’ll relinquish the belt before it’s taken away from him, saying: “I spoke to the UFC a long time ago about what my future plans were.
“I haven’t really worked out since my last fight in New York City.
“Honestly, I believe it’s been in the UFC’s best interest to keep presenting me as the company’s champion – not Tom.
“I’ve just been playing the role of the company man by doing nothing at all… and holding the position.
If Jon doesn’t want to fight, you can’t make him fight.”
Dana White on Jon Jones
“And truthfully, it’s been incredibly lucrative.
“I’ve made more money off of Tom being the interim champ than Tom has himself.
“It sucks to see the rest of the division get slowed down like this, but that has nothing to do with me. I don’t pull the strings.
“And remember, you can’t strip a guy like me at this point I give the belt up freely. Veni, vidi, vici.”
Jones hasn’t fought since his Madison Square Garden mauling of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November.
Interim titleholder Aspinall, meanwhile, has been twiddling his thumbs since his 60-second demolition of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last July.