Dana White, the UFC president, confirmed on Saturday night, during the UFC on ESPN 63 event, held at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, that the highly anticipated heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is set to happen in 2025. White, with his unwavering confidence, stressed the magnitude of this potential fight, declaring it to be perhaps the biggest clash in heavyweight history.
Jones recently defended his heavyweight title with a knockout victory over Stipe Miocic on November 16 at UFC 309. His win generated immediate talk about unifying the championship with Aspinall, who holds the interim title after his staggering rise through the heavyweight ranks, where he has achieved rapid stoppage victories against competitors like Curtis Blaydes, Sergei Pavlovich, and Alexander Volkov.
"100 percent," White replied when asked if this unification bout could be the biggest he can arrange for 2025. "I think it’s probably the biggest fight in heavyweight history and it’s a massive fight in the history of the company, too. It’s a big fight," he added, showcasing his excitement for the potential matchup.
Nonetheless, there has been speculation about whether Jones, who is regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time, would be willing to accept the fight. White quickly sought to quell those doubts, noting, "It’s weird. Let me tell you what’s weird about this. Usually, those guys say things behind the scenes and not publicly. Jon says things publicly and not behind the scenes. From day one, I’ve been confident Jon Jones would do this fight." He believed Jones wouldn't shy away from the challenge, saying, "Jon isn’t afraid to fight anybody, and that's a fact. The only time anything remotely unusual happened with Jon was when his camp turned down the Chael Sonnen fight on short notice. That wasn't him; it was the team, and he listened for whatever reason. That’s like the goofiest move, honestly. But other than, Jon Jones doesn’t turn down fights behind closed doors."
Backing up White’s statements, Aspinall has made waves with his thoughts about Jones’ status within the sport. Aspinall commended Jones as "absolutely elite" and validly one of the best ever, but he also expressed his firm belief concerning the impact of performance-enhancing drugs on Jones' legacy. He articulated, "Let me first start by saying Jon is absolutely elite. I agree he’s one of the best fighters ever—potentially the greatest. But he has failed drug tests; to me, this rules you out of being the best of all time—at least personally.” Aspinall went on to assert the clear line between right and wrong when he remarked, “Yeah, of course, it does make him a cheat. If you’re on Performance Enhancing Drugs, and your opponent isn’t, that's cheating, period—unless you're both allowed to do it.” Aspinall's hard stance on drug use exemplifies the internal conflicts faced within the MMA community over integrity and credibility.
Shifting from the heavyweight unification to UFC on ESPN 63, the event raked in over $208,500 for Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay, reflecting the UFC's recent adjustments to its payment structures for fighters. This payment scheme, which connects to their outfitting requirements and media commitments, replaces the older Athlete Outfitting Policy. Fighters were compensated as per their bout history, with numerous athletes across the card benefitting from this new system at the Tampa event.
The top payouts from UFC on ESPN 63 were as follows: Joaquin Buckley earned $11,000 following his TKO victory over Colby Covington, who received $16,000. Other results included notable performances with financial incentives for fighters, underscoring the blend of performance and promotional efforts required for success within the organization.
Overall, the atmosphere surrounding the Octagon is buzzing with anticipation. Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall’s looming showdown not only marks another exhilarating chapter for the UFC but could also significantly reshape the narrative surrounding the heavyweight division, depending on the outcome. With all these developments, fans are eagerly counting down the days until they see one of the most electric matchups the sport has to offer brought to life.
Indeed, as the UFC moves forward, the organization continues exploring new earning potentials for fighters, ensuring they receive their fair share of their hard-earned successes. The countdown to UFC 312, featuring Kamaru Usman edging toward his own comeback, only adds to the dramatic buildup leading to Jones vs. Aspinall. This highly anticipated event marks not just the continuation of legendary careers, but they contribute to the ever-evolving legacy of mixed martial arts on the global stage.
