Talks of a unification bout between Jon Jones and interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall have been ongoing since before 2025, but Jones recently dismissed the matchup, expressing interest instead in a fight with Francis Ngannou.
This stance has drawn criticism, including a petition with over 193,000 signatures demanding Jones be stripped of his title.
MMA coach Javier Mendez weighed in, suggesting the UFC is holding off on stripping Jones to preserve the potential of a high-profile unification fight. On his podcast, Mendez said the promotion will act when the time is right, but for now, keeping Jones as champion helps build anticipation.
He added that both the UFC and media benefit from prolonging the story, which keeps fan interest growing around a possible Jones vs. Aspinall clash.
