On Saturday night, Jon Jones successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title in the main event of UFC 309 with a third-round knockout of former two-time UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic. In an ideal world, that win would lead to a title fight between Jones and interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall. Judging by Jones’ comments after his KO win, we don’t live in that ideal world.

Not long after stopping Miocic with a spinning kick to the body, Jones sat in the bowels of Madison Square Garden talking about his plans for the future and how Tom Aspinall probably won’t be involved.

UFC 309: Jon Jones on a title unification fight with Tom Aspinall

“I’m not really worried about the fight with Tom. I’m worried about the (UFC light heavyweight champion Alex) Pereira fight,” Jones said at the UFC 309 post-fight press conference. “That’s what I want to do. I think if the UFC wants me back, I think this is the fight they will make. I have been very clear about my intentions. That’s what I want.

“I just feel like everyone would understand at this point. If I have to, I will retire the heavyweight belt. … Tom can win the heavyweight championship. It doesn’t really matter to me.”

“I just don’t like him, and if I end up giving him the opportunity to fight me, I want to be compensated for that,” Jones added. “I want (expletive) your money. Honestly. That’s exactly what it is. That’s exactly what it is. My life is perfect without him. I don’t need him at all, and he needs me, and that’s a good place to negotiate.”

UFC 309: Dana White vs. Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

While Jones seems fixated on booking a match with UFC light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira at heavyweight, UFC CEO Dana White believes a fight makes no sense, especially after what he saw in the main event of UFC 309.

“It (Jones vs. Aspinall) would be by far the biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history,” White said at the UFC 309 post-fight press conference. “It will be the biggest heavyweight fight ever. And it will probably be the biggest fight we’ve ever done.”

“Jon is too big… (he’s a) great wrestler. Did you see how he knocked Stipe down in that first round? I love Alex Pereira. There’s just no point in making that fight,” White added .

“If they both want it bad enough and they both chase me or something, I might do it, but it’s just Alex Pereira killing it. Look at his age and what he’s doing now, what’s the reason to go up and fight a man so much bigger?

“I want Pereira to stay where he is and do what he does: run into the streets.

“But then again, if they go crazy for me and they want to do it, what am I going to do? They’re grown men and I’m sure the fans want to see it.”

UFC 309: Tom Aspinall on possible Jon Jones fight

After UFC 309, Aspinall spoke about the possibility of a title unification fight with Jones.

“When Jon Jones gave his speech, I looked directly at the UFC brass, Dana and Hunter (Campbell),” Aspinall said during the UFC 309 post-fight show.

“They both turned to me at the same time, pointed at me and winked. At the same time. So to me that says something big is in the pipeline.

“This is the biggest fight in the UFC. This is huge. This is potentially one of the biggest fights in MMA right now. If that doesn’t interest Jon Jones, then I don’t know what else we can do. Everyone knows that this is the battle we must fight.

“This is the fight the people want. This is the fight the UFC wants. This is the fight the fans want. This is the fight that needs to happen now.”

Opening odds Jones versus Aspinall

With the Jones vs. Aspinall fight a possibility, BetOnline placed early bets on the potential title unification fight. Aspinall opened as a -135 betting favorite over Jones, who was listed as the +115 betting underdog.

UFC 309: Reaction to Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic

I wrote the following after Jones defeated Miocic at UFC 309.

Jon Jones successfully defended the UFC heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 with no issues. The defending champion had no problem surrendering Miocic. Jones was especially effective at getting to the body, which is how he ultimately ended the fight.

Jones looked good in getting the win, but there are still questions he needs to answer, the biggest of which is what happens when he faces interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.

Reaction to Tom Aspinall’s defense of the interim heavyweight title

I offered the following after Aspinall defended the interim heavyweight crown with a 60-second knockout against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 in July. Aspinall won the interim belt in November 2023 with a 69-second KO of Sergei Pavlovich.

The question facing Tom Aspinall remains unanswered. That question is what happens if Aspinall is forced to fight past the second round. Well, Aspinall submitted Curtis Blaydes with a series of ground strikes in just 60 seconds in the co-main event of UFC 304.

The next question facing Aspinall, the UFC, Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic is what happens after UFC heavyweight champion Jones faces Miocic? Will there be a title unification fight or will the winner of that fight retire?

Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall heavyweight title reigns

Jones won the vacant UFC heavyweight title in March 2023 with a submission victory over Ciryl Gane. The UFC initially booked Jones vs. Miocic for UFC 295, but a torn pectoral muscle knocked Jones from that November 2023 scrap. Jones’ first title defense came against Miocic at UFC 309. He has a career record of 28-1-0-1.

Aspinall got his shot at the interim title during a short-lived appearance at UFC 205. He knocked out Pavlovich to claim that title. With Jones out of action and a title unification fight not yet booked, Aspinall defended the interim crown against Blaydes. Aspinall hasn’t fought since that win. He has a career record of 15-3.

Given the state of the UFC heavyweight division, a unification fight between Jones and Aspinall makes sense. If that fight can’t be booked, the UFC should strip Jones of the title and make Aspinall the champion.