UFC fans turn on Jon Jones with savage three-word chant amid Tom Aspinall row
The heavyweight champion has been accused of 'ducking' Aspinall by the UFC fans despite claiming he would fight at least one more time
UFC fans have demanded Jon Jones be stripped of his undisputed heavyweight title.
Jones, who clinched the gold belt in 2023 after submitting Ciryl Gane, has only defended the strap once - a knockout victory over Stipe Miocic last November. Prior to the clash with the MMA legend, many believed that it would be the American's final appearance in the cage.
However, immediately after the clash, he hinted at staying on for at least one more fight. Since then, Jones and Tom Aspinall have been locked in talks about a unification showdown later this year. Yet, 'Bones' has publicly hesitated to commit to fighting the interim champion.
With Jones now considering retirement again, fans are urging Dana White to strip 'Bones' of the heavyweight championship. The promotion is hosting a blockbuster pay-per-view event on Saturday night, with the fighters squaring off at yesterday's press conference.
With millions watching, the UFC faithful in attendance seized the opportunity to voice their thoughts on the Jones situation. Thousands of UFC fans have signed a petition to strip Jones of his heavyweight title, amid the growing frustration over the delay in organising his fight against the Brit. At the UFC 316 press conference, chants of "strip Jon Jones" thundered from the stands, drowning out commentator Jon Anik's attempts to weigh in on the debate.
When Anik finally managed to share his opinion, he said: "So I think a fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is bigger if they are both champions. I'm hopeful they're going to fight in December in Las Vegas. I have no inside information. But I don't know that Jon Jones really gives a rip if they strip him of the heavyweight championship. He's still going to fight Tom, hopefully, and it's still going to be a bag."
Soon after the press conference, the 37-year-old heavyweight champion hinted at retirement. He responded to a fan on social media on Friday morning, insinuating the anticipated dust-up with Aspinall is off as he steps back from the sport. The response came after facing accusations on Twitter of being afraid to take on the British fighter.
Jones took to Twitter and posted: "It really has nothing to do with fear. The question I asked my close friends and family is how much higher can a person like me climbing this sport. The goal for athletes is to build a brand and then take that brand and become so much more than an athlete. A lot of the fans and fighters are not used to seeing someone go out on top the way I have. I get that it's uncomfortable and I don't expect people to understand territories that they've never been."
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