Jul 6, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Jon Jones (red gloves) before his fight against Thiago Santos (not pictured) at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

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Jon Jones Questions UFC’s Silence On Plans He Communicated Long Ago!

Jones expresses frustration over the UFC’s silence, claiming he’s already made his next steps clear behind the scenes!

Jul 6, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Jon Jones (red gloves) before his fight against Thiago Santos (not pictured) at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

The saga between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall feels like it has been going on forever. Jones captured the heavyweight belt back in March 2023 against Ciryl Gane. He defended it once by knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November. Meanwhile, Aspinall has been waiting in the wings with the interim title. The British knockout artist has been ready since blasting Curtis Blaydes in just 60 seconds at UFC 304.

Fans have grown increasingly frustrated. Social media buzzes with accusations. The word “duck” gets thrown around daily. And through it all, Jones has remained somewhat quiet about his next move. Until now, that is.

Also Read: “What Am I Supposed To Do?” -Tom Aspinall Voices Frustration as Jon Jones Fight Remains In Limbo

Jon Jones Reveals That The UFC Knows About His Plans

The UFC heavyweight champion recently fired back at fans on social media. When one fan suggested Jones was enjoying his “last days as champ before being stripped,” the fighter didn’t hold back. “Stripped? Lol, do I come across as the type of person who cares about things like that?” Jones responded. When pushed further about why he hasn’t vacated the belt if he doesn’t care, Jones dropped a bombshell.

“Yall barkin up the wrong tree. I told the UFC my plans a long time ago. I have no clue why they haven’t shared them with you guys yet.”

Yall barkin up the wrong tree, I told the Ufc my plans a long time ago. I have no clue why they haven’t shared them with you guys yet. https://t.co/sB4gPaqlzU
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) May 19, 2025

This statement has set the MMA world ablaze with speculation. What exactly did Jones tell the UFC? And why is the promotion keeping it under wraps? If this is true and Jones has already communicated his schedule to the UFC, keeping Tom Aspinall in the unknown seems wrong. But, only one man, Dana White can answer this question and he is not talking yet.

While fans wait for a title unification bout, Jones has been keeping busy. He is currently in Thailand filming a Russian reality TV show called “Warriors Path.” The series reportedly involves Jones facing off against Nate Diaz in some capacity. Social media shows the champion hanging out with viral sensation Hasbulla and enjoying the local cuisine.

Dana White Confident That Jones Will Fight This Year

Despite Jones’ extracurricular activities, UFC CEO Dana White remains adamant that the heavyweight champion will return to action. When asked specifically if Jones would compete in 2025, White responded with a confident, “Yes. Absolutely.” These assurances have done little to calm Aspinall’s frustration. The interim champion recently said he’s “had enough” of waiting around.

Whatever Jones told the UFC about his plans remains a mystery. Perhaps the champion is negotiating for a record-breaking payday. Maybe he is waiting for a specific date or venue. Or possibly, Jones has an entirely different opponent in mind. Whatever the case, the heavyweight division remains at a standstill.

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Jon Jones

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!