TOM ASPINALL will meet with the UFC brass THIS WEEK to discuss his next fight – which looks like it’ll be against Jon Jones.
Negotiations over a historic heavyweight title unification bout between the interim and undisputed titleholders began late last year.
Aspinall recently suggested the fight had moved a giant step closer to coming to fruition by claiming everything was “done” on the side of Jones, who demanded “f**k you money” for the bout.
And the Wigan warrior is set to meet with the UFC brass later this week to discuss what’s next.
Aspinall, 31, said: “We do have a meeting next week, things are looking very positive.
“Jon Jones is an absolute d**k.”
SunSport understands the UFC brass are hoping to have staged the Jones vs Aspinall bout before the fall.
UFC 317 – which takes place in Las Vegas on June 28 – has been targeted by UFC supremo Dana White and the rest of the brass.
And White recently revealed the promotion’s timeline for the eagerly-anticipated unification bout.
During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, the 55-year-old said: “The plan is [for Aspinall] to fight Jon this summer.
“Obviously, when, where and all that stuff is being determined. My goal this year is to make that fight [with] Aspinall.”
It has, however, been claimed that Jones wants at least SIX MONTHS to prepare for the fight.
Veteran MMA reporter Ariel Helwani revealed earlier this month: “Well, the clock is ticking on that one [a summer fight between Jones and Aspinall].
“Because I was told that Jon wants six months to prepare [once] the fight is locked in.
“And what’s six months from now? September?
“I’m sure money talks but it feels like the summer – if that is the goal – it’s starting to slip away a little bit.”
Former pound-for-pound king Jones hasn’t fought since retaining his undisputed belt with a third-round TKO of ex-champ Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November.
Aspinall was briefly in action last July at UFC 304 in Manchester, where he blitzed Curtis Blaydes in 60 seconds to avenge his July 2022 loss to the American.
