Jon Jones is expected to face Stipe Miocic before the end of 2024, with Dana White recently stating that the winner will step into the Octagon against Tom Aspinall to unify the UFC heavyweight championship.
Jones has been out of action since winning the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane in March 2023. Although Aspinall has won and defended the interim title, "Bones" is still the official champion and holds a solid #3 ranking in the pound-for-pound list.
"Bones" has repeatedly talked about considering retirement after the Miocic fight as well. One former UFC champ, however, thinks this move could be detrimental to his legacy...
Michael Bisping Claims Jon Jones Would Lose Fans If He Retires Without Fighting Tom Aspinall
Michael Bisping recently discussed the future of the UFC heavyweight division on his official YouTube channel. The winner of Jones vs. Miocic is expected to face Aspinall next, and early odds favor the interim champ.
"The Count" claimed that despite his GOAT status as a light heavyweight, Jones' inactivity at heavyweight makes him an underdog against Aspinall. But the former UFC middleweight kingpin also highlighted that his opponent's lack of fighting experience could benefit Jones, who boasts a record 15 UFC title wins.
He hasn't got the in-ring time, he hasn't got the experience, the fight IQ of a Jon Jones.
Bisping's other concern is regarding Jones' will to fight after the Miocic fight. The decision is largely dependent on his performance, and in the eyes of "The Count," retiring without unifying the heavyweight title wouldn't sit well with a lot of fans.
Jones vs. Aspinall has been a highly anticipated fight for over a year now. While the Brit has been respectfully waiting for the opportunity, many think that "Bones" is avoiding the Aspinall fight due to the higher risk of losing.
Bisping believes such narratives will only get stronger if the UFC heavyweight champion retires after his next scheduled fight.
It would suck. Not only would it suck, but it would also be not the best move for Jon Jones in terms of fan appreciation. The narrative would always be that he was ducking Tom Aspinall.