Jon Jones has come under fire after mocking interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall for opening up about his mental struggles during a long wait for their potential title unification bout.
Aspinall, who has been sidelined since last July, recently admitted in an interview that the inactivity has taken a toll on him mentally. Speaking to Demetrious Johnson, the British fighter said: “Now is actually a little bit more of a tricky time for me mentally… I constantly had little goals that I could work towards, whereas now it’s like, ‘Just be ready and we’ll just let you know.’”
Jones didn’t hold back in response, commenting under the clip, “Shut your mouth and do as you’re told,” echoing Conor McGregor’s famous line to opponents.
Negotiations for the long-anticipated fight between Jones and Aspinall have stalled, despite Jones previously receiving a massive payout for his bout against Stipe Miocic. While UFC President Dana White has publicly stated that Jones will return to the Octagon in 2025, the champion’s own messages on social media have been inconsistent—hinting at retirement one day and a comeback the next.
Jones has denied claims of avoiding Aspinall, insisting that he has already informed the UFC of his plans. He stated, “Y’all barkin’ up the wrong tree. I told the UFC my plans a long time ago. I have no clue why they haven’t shared them with you guys yet.”
Fans remain skeptical about whether the heavyweight unification fight will ever happen.
