UFC CEO Dana White is hopeful his heavyweight championship belt will get unified next year.
After Tom Aspinall registered an impressive 60-second interim title defense against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 on Saturday in Manchester, England, familiar questions once again bubbled up about whether the Brit will get the chance to unify the strap with Jon Jones or Stipe Miocic, who are expected to clash for the heavyweight belt at UFC 309 on Nov. 9 in New York.
The matchup between Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) and Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC) was first scheduled for this past November, but was called off when Jones suffered a shoulder injury that required surgery. He hasn’t fought since, but is on the comeback trail. White has stood firm on plans for that pairing despite Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) claiming and now defending the interim belt since Jones last stepped in the cage, but what happens after that bout finally happens, remains a mystery.
Both Jones, 37, and Miocic, 41, have alluded to the possibility they will retire from MMA regardless of the result once they fight, which has caused frustration Aspinall and much of the MMA community. White said he doesn’t know what’s going to happen, but admits he wouldn’t be thrilled if a double retirement came to life.
“If both retire? F*cking that’ll suck,” White told MMA Junkie and other reporters at the UFC 304 post-fight news conference. “That’ll suck. I don’t know what we’ll do if that happens.”
At this point, White said he can only operate off hunches and guesswork. In his best estimation, though, if Jones wins against Miocic, it’s going to be hard to ignore the growing calls for a unification showdown with Aspinall, who many, including longtime rival Daniel Cormier, thinks is the biggest threat to give “Bones” his first true defeat in MMA competition.
“Jon Jones is no dummy,” White said. “Jon Jones has a very high fight IQ. He knows what Aspinall’s got and what he’s about. I think we’re going to have to see what happens in this fight with Stipe, see where Jon’s head is. Or, if Stipe wins, see where his head is and see what they want to do. Is it their last fight? Are they going to retire?
“I think if Stipe wins, he probably will (retire). But I think if Jon Jones wins, I just think that competitive spirit that he has and his desire to prove to the world that he’s the best (will make him fight). Especially when people are saying that (Aspinall) could possibly be the best ever. I think that’s the kind of sh*t that fires Jon Jones up.
“… There’s no doubt about it (that fight is getting bigger). There’s no doubt, whoever wins the fight between Jon Jones and Stipe, is a great fight for Aspinall.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 304.
