Dana White has given clearest hint yet on huge Jon Jones fight

UFC President Dana White seems to be setting the stage for what might be one of many largest heavyweight fights in MMA historical past. Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall is rumored to headline UFC 317 throughout Worldwide Combat Week in June.

Whereas no official announcement has been made, a number of stories and insider hypothesis counsel that the undisputed heavyweight champion and White’s self-proclaimed GOAT will lastly face the British surging interim champion in a long-anticipated showdown. White fueled hypothesis himself throughout a current Instagram Dwell session, the place he introduced a number of big-time fights for UFC 314.

The CEO frontman formally revealed Alexander Volkanovski vs. Diego Lopes for the vacant featherweight title, Michael Chandler vs. Paddy Pimblett in a five-round co-main occasion, and Yair Rodriguez vs. veteran newcomer Patricio Pitbull. However when it got here to Jones’ subsequent battle, White stayed silent till the remark part exploded with followers demanding solutions.

After a slew of claims {that a} battle like Jones vs. Aspinall would by no means occur on account of a documented disparity concerning Jones’s funds for the battle and profession repute, White responded, “Completely, it’ll occur,” as followers saved begging. This data was all MMA followers wanted to listen to to do their detective work and decide when the battle may happen.

Longtime MMA journalist Kevin Iole, who has coated the game for over 20 years and constructed a detailed relationship with White, took that assertion as greater than a obscure promise. In a YouTube breakdown, Iole predicted Jones vs. Aspinall being focused as the primary occasion for UFC 317, set for June 28 at T-Cellular Enviornment in Las Vegas.

The occasion is listed on the UFC’s official web site, however no fights have been formally positioned on the cardboard, fueling hypothesis that the promotion is holding out for a marquee headliner. With a welterweight title scheduled for UFC 315, no data obtainable for UFC 316, and champions Alex Pereira and Belal Muhammad already booked to battle later within the yr, the big-time summer season card is seemingly operating out of choices to be powered by a star.

MMA analysts and battle prediction websites have all guessed that Jones vs. Aspinall is the main candidate for UFC 317’s foremost occasion. A number of different blockbuster bouts have additionally been floated as potentialities, together with a Jon Jones tremendous battle towards gentle heavyweight champion Pereira, a champion vs. vacated champion matchup between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria, and No. 3 Khamzat Chimaev’s first middleweight title shot towards champion Dricus Du Plessis.

The hype for Jones vs. Aspinall has been brewing since mid-2024, even earlier than Jones delivered a third-round knockout of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, securing his record-breaking twelfth profession title protection. Aspinall has relentlessly known as for his shot at Jones after bouncing again from a 2022 loss to Curtis Blaydes with a dominant three-fight win streak, together with a one-minute revenge KO of Blaydes final July.

DON’T MISS

Jones initially said eager to battle Pereira extra, as defeating the multi-division champion could be higher for his legacy. He is additionally confirmed that whereas there aren’t any plans to retire in 2025, he has “one or two” extra fights within the tank earlier than hanging up the gloves.