Jon Jones uses former opponent to explain why he doesn’t want to fight ‘not special’ Tom….

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has once again stirred the pot in the MMA world, this time by addressing the growing calls for a title unification bout with interim champion Tom Aspinall. In typical Jones fashion, he did so by downplaying Aspinall’s credentials—and referencing a former opponent to drive home his point.

During a recent interview, Jones dismissed the idea that Aspinall is a must-fight contender, stating that the British heavyweight hasn’t done enough to truly earn his interest. To underline his stance, Jones invoked Ciryl Gane, the man he submitted in a dominant performance at UFC 285 to win the vacant heavyweight title.

“Look, I fought Ciryl Gane—who people said was the most dangerous striker in the division—and made it look easy,” Jones said. “Aspinall had his chance to face Gane and didn’t. That says a lot. To me, he’s just not special.”

Jones’ comments come amid increasing pressure for him to return and unify the title against Aspinall, who has been on a tear in the division with first-round finishes and an interim belt to his name. Yet Jones, still recovering from a torn pectoral muscle that sidelined his planned clash with Stipe Miocic, appears more interested in legacy fights than defending against rising contenders.

“Tom’s good, sure,” Jones acknowledged. “But great? Special? That’s a whole different level. I don’t feel like I need to prove myself against someone who hasn’t beaten the best.”

The statement adds fuel to the fire in what has become one of the most debated topics in the heavyweight division. Aspinall, for his part, has remained respectful but assertive, repeatedly calling for a showdown to determine the undisputed champion. Many fans and analysts believe it’s the fight that needs to happen to move the division forward.

Still, Jones remains focused on a legacy-defining bout with Miocic, the former heavyweight champion widely regarded as the most accomplished in UFC history. With both fighters on the older side and Aspinall representing the next generation, the UFC faces a dilemma: prioritize star power or competitive merit?

As fans await Jones’ return, the question looms larger than ever—can the sport’s most polarizing champion ignore its fastest-rising star forever?