Tom Aspinall claims UFC fans ‘confused’ two things about his obsession to face Jon Jones in super-fight

UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has now broken down why he was pushing for a mega-fight with MMA legend Jon Jones contained in the octagon.

Tom Aspinall had been elevated to the status of undisputed UFC heavyweight champion in 2025 after Jon Jones made the choice to retire from MMA.

The 33-year-old Salford-born MMA fighter had been in contention to face Jones after he had won the interim heavyweight title against Sergei Pavlovich back in 2023.

Aspinall, who has not fought in 2026, defended his interim heavyweight belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in 2024 ahead of Jones vacating the championship.

Tom Aspinall vs the UFC: Whose side are you on? 👀

Tom Aspinall says one reason behind his push for the Jon Jones fight was to take the heavyweight belt from him

Jon Jones, who’s widely considered the most effective MMA fighters of all time, defended the UFC heavyweight championship against Stipe Miocic in 2024.

Following his one and only title defense at heavyweight, the 39-year-old American star opted to not pursue the Tom Aspinall fight and as an alternative retired in 2025.

Jones had made his long-awaited climb to heavyweight in 2023 and sealed a shocking first-round win over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 to win the title in the primary place.

Speaking on the Great Company with Jamie Laing podcast, Aspinall had said that he desired to force the fight with Jones to secure the heavyweight title from him.

“Look, it’s what it’s [not fighting Jones in the end],” he said.

“Everyone’s got their very own reasons for stuff. On the time, I used to be just desperately attempting to get the fight because I desired to get the title off him.

I believe quite a lot of people type of got it confused why I desired to… I used to be never going after Jon Jones. I used to be going after the title. Easy as that.

“I desired to be the perfect on this planet and I wasn’t given the possibility to fight Jon Jones.

“I’d have loved to have fought the most effective, but I wasn’t given the possibility. And I don’t think it’ll ever occur now. So, it’s what it’s.”

Has Tom Aspinall risked his relationship with the UFC and Dana White?😬

Tom Aspinall says people will not be getting that he desired to fight the perfect on the market, even when Jon Jones beat him up

Aspinall admitted that another excuse that UFC fans are ‘confused’ around his desire to fight Jones is due to his hunger to compete with the highest athletes on the market.

“Oh, he’s an absolute beast, which is why I desired to fight him ‘cause I need to fight the perfect,” he added.

“I need to fight the perfect.”

Aspinall continued: “And I believe that’s where quite a lot of people type of got that confused once I was attempting to fight Jon Jones. It’s like I need to fight the perfect guy.

“Persons are saying the perfect guy ever. Listen, he could absolutely kick my a–, but no less than I attempted.”

Aspinall’s last outing within the octagon resulted in a no contest after an accidental eye poke by the hands of Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 during his heavyweight title defense in 2025.