Former UFC champ says Tom Aspinall should stop waiting for Jon Jones

Demetrious Johnson advises Tom Aspinall against waiting for UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones.

It’s been more than 500 days since interim champion Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) has competed as he awaits his title-unification bout with Jones. But with the rumor circulating that Jones is asking for six months to prep for Aspinall once the fight is finalized, Johnson thinks the Brit needs to move on.

Aspinall has already defended his interim title once when he finished Curtis Blaydes by TKO at UFC 304 last July, and Johnson would like to see him fight again before a potential matchup with Jones (28-1 MMA, 22-1 UFC).

“If I was Tom Aspinall, I’d be like, ‘God, dude, like I’m not f*cking waiting six months,'” Johnson told Submission Radio. “Like, y’all need to get me another fight. But then again, this could be the biggest fight of his career if he’s able to beat Jon Jones. I have mixed feelings on the six months. I think that Tom Aspinall should take another fight.

“I think when you put a athlete who’s very young like that on ice and they don’t get that ring time, they don’t get that opportunity to get out there and just fight and make the money, it’s a little bit different. If I was Tom Aspinall, I’ll say, ‘Jon Jones wants six months, I’m going to pass on that fight, I’m going to fight somebody else, I’ll defend the interim heavyweight championship.'”

With Jones’ return date still to be determined, Johnson doesn’t want to see Aspinall waste his prime years on the sidelines – especially with no certainty that the fight even happens.

“Everybody’s fighting on Jon Jones’ timeline,” Johnson continued. “If I was Tom Aspinall, I wouldn’t fight on Jon Jones’ timeline. He’s dictating what’s going on right now and when that fight’s going to happen. If I was Tom Aspinall, I’m like, ‘Nah, I’m not waiting six months. I’m not going to do that.’ I can’t remember the last time Tom Aspinall fought.

“When did Jon Jones fight? Was that last year in November? That is a long time, and the fight hasn’t even been signed. So, is it six months when they finally sign the fight? Or is it six months from now? It’s been prolonged so long that it’s almost like a movie that we’re all excited about that might never come out.”