Heavyweights call for Jones to be stripped – what happens next?

Numerous fighters have demanded Jon Jones’ title be stripped of because the future of the UFC heavyweight division is still uncertain.

American Jones lost to Tom Aspinall, the interim champion of the United Kingdom, in a November fight that he did not defend against Stipe Miocic.

Although Aspinall, 32, has been in the interim belt for 18 months, despite numerous requests for a fight between Jones and Jones, no unification has yet been announced.

Dana White, the promotion’s president, claims Jones has been trying to finalize the fight, teasing Aspinall on social media and making retirement hints.

American Curtis Blaydes argued that Jones should win the title before his heavyweight fight this weekend in Baku, Azerbaijan.

I would like him stripped if he doesn’t fight. It is shared by everyone. What are you doing while holding the belt if you’re not going to be active? He’s the GOAT, he’s great? Blaydes remarked.

I understand what he’s doing, he says. He finds this enjoyable. He enjoys hearing about his name. I’ve already gotten past it.

Risvan Kuniev, Blaydes’ rival, echoed his sentiments, calling for Jones to be stripped and calling Aspinall the “true champion.”

White would describe the potential matchup as the “biggest heavyweight fight in UFC history.”

Former light-heavyweight champion and regarded as one of, if not the best, greatest MMA fighters of all time, Jones, 37, is one of the best.

He holds the record for most title fight victories in the UFC with 16 wins, one loss, and one no-contest overall.

In contrast, Aspinall has won eight of his UFC fights, including the shortest fight-time average in the organization’s history, two minutes and two seconds.

The UFC are attempting to arrange for the fight to take place in Las Vegas in December and New York in November.

The only issue is Jones, despite Aspinall wanting the fight.

Jones has not apologised, calling out former champion Francis Ngannou and suggesting that he is retired. He claims that fighting Aspinall is “nothing for his legacy”.

Aspinall would become the first Briton to unite the UFC heavyweight division if Jones were stripped or forced to close out his distinguished career as he has suggested.

Aspinall’s interim title fight against Sergei Pavlovich, which is the longest in UFC history, came after 586 days.

Renan Barao, a former interim bantamweight champion, held the belt for 534 days, breaking previous records.

Although Aspinall has repeatedly requested a fight with Jones, he has stated that he is happy with the American because he wants to become the undisputed champion.

Aspinall was described by White as “the man” earlier this month, and he claimed the Briton’s next fight will be a fight for undisputed title.

Ciryl Gane from France is most likely to face Aspinall for the belt if Aspinall is promoted to the undisputed heavyweight champion.

The 35-year-old was an interim champion before losing to Ngannou in 2022 and Jones the following year.

Gane has won two fights and moved up to second place in the UFC heavyweight rankings since Jones’ defeat.

Prior to this, Aspinall had demanded a fight with Gane, but that was a failure.

Alexander Volkov from Russia and Brazilian Jailton Almeida, both of whom have the potential to face Aspinall, have been training with the potential to fight either.

Volkov, 36, fell to Aspinall in 2022, placing third in the heavyweight rankings.

He has won four of his last five fights, but Gane narrowly lost to him in December.