Jon Jones Declares No Interest in Aspinall Fight Without Hefty Pay

UFC 309 proved why Jon “Bones” Jones is still one of the most dominant forces in MMA. Fresh off a stunning third-round KO of Stipe Miocic, Jones is now calling the shots and making it clear that if the UFC wants him to take on interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall, it’ll come with a hefty price tag.

“He’s annoying to me,” Jones bluntly said at the UFC 309 post-fight presser when asked about Aspinall.

The heavyweight king isn’t shy about his disdain for the British fighter and was unapologetic about his demands. “If I give him the opportunity to fight me, I want to be so compensated—I want that ‘f*ck you’ money, honestly,” Jones declared. And with the veteran champ feeling no pressure, he doubled down: “My life is perfect without him. I don’t need him at all, and he needs me—that’s a good place to be in a negotiation.”

While UFC CEO Dana White has hinted that a showdown between Jones and Aspinall should come first, Jones has made it clear that he’s got his sights set on another marquee matchup: current light heavyweight champ Alex Pereira. “I’m not really worried about the Tom fight,” Jones revealed. “I’m really worried about the Pereira fight. That’s what I want to do. I think if the UFC wants to have me back, then I think that’s the fight they’ll make.”

In Jones’ eyes, the only fights worth his time are against established champions, not up-and-comers. “My value doesn’t lie in belts anymore. I’ve created something bigger. I want Pereira,” he said. Pereira, known for his devastating knockout power, has already expressed interest in facing Jones, making this potential clash one for the ages.

If the UFC isn’t on board? Jones is ready to walk. “I’ll retire the heavyweight belt if I have to,” he stated, adding that he’s content with closing out his career after the monumental Miocic fight. “Telling the world how proud I am to be an American champion and fighting in front of [President Elect Donald Trump]… if that was my last fight ever, then I’m cool with that.”

In true Jon Jones fashion, the UFC legend isn’t mincing words or playing by anyone else’s rules. With his eyes set on a blockbuster showdown with Alex Pereira and no interest in “dangerous up-and-comers,” Jones is making it clear that he’s ready to cash out on his own terms or ride off into the sunset a champion. The ball’s in UFC’s court—now we wait to see if they’ll meet the demands of their heavyweight king or risk a farewell from one of MMA’s greatest.