Jon Jones has finally broken his silence on his UFC future, strongly suggesting he'll voluntarily relinquish the heavyweight title rather than face interim champion Tom Aspinall.
"You can't strip a guy like me at this point. I give the belt up freely. Veni, vidi, vici," Jones wrote in an unexpected social media spree.
The former pound-for-pound king has kept the division in limbo since his maiden heavyweight title defense last November. Despite UFC meeting his demands for what Jones himself called "F**K YOU MONEY" for a potential clash with Aspinall, no fight has materialized.
Jones revealed he hasn't trained seriously since his last appearance in New York City, adding an interesting claim about his financial situation while inactive.
"I've made more money off of Tom being the interim champ than Tom has himself," Jones stated, suggesting the UFC has preferred keeping him as the recognized champion over Aspinall.
Fans have increasingly accused Jones of ducking the challenge presented by the British interim champion. Yet the American seems unfazed by criticism, offering a philosophical response about his place in the sport's history.
"Legacy is what no one can take from you. It's built over time, not defined by a single win or loss," he explained, dismissing concerns that avoiding Aspinall might tarnish his reputation.
Meanwhile, Aspinall has been sidelined since his impressive 60-second victory over Curtis Blaydes last July. By all accounts, the division has stagnated while waiting for Jones to make a decision.
According to reports, an announcement regarding Aspinall's next fight is expected soon. Will this finally clear the heavyweight logjam that Jones himself acknowledges has "slowed down" the division?
