DANA WHITE has finally revealed the timeline for the fight at the top of UFC fans’ wishlists for 2025.
The MMA leader has several mouth-watering match-ups in the pipeline for the remainder of the year, which could end up being one of their most profitable.
The UFC brass are working on a historic heavyweight showdown between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall[/caption]
Hall-of-Famer Jones’ demand for “f**k you money” raised serious doubts over the fight[/caption]
UFC CEO and President Dana White has revealed the promotion are hoping the fight will take place in the summer[/caption]
Khamzat Chimaev‘s crack at middleweight gold is among them, as is Ilia Topuria’s potential showdown with Islam Makhachev.
The fight UFC fans are most looking forward to is the heavyweight title unification bout between Jon Jones and Brit Tom Aspinall.
Negotiations began last November in the aftermath of Jones retaining his undisputed belt with a stunning stoppage of Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, after which the Hall-of-Famer demanded “f**k you money” for the bout.
The lack of updates in recent months had MMA fans fearing the worst, although White has revealed when the promotion hopes to pit the pair against one another.
During an appearance on The Jim Rome Show, he said: “The plan is [for Aspinall] to fight Jon this summer.
“Obviously, when, where and all that stuff is being determined. My goal this year is to make that fight [with] Aspinall.”
The winner of Jones vs Aspinall will immediately have another mega fight on the horizon – a showdown with superstar Alex Pereira.
White continued: “I think that the fight that everybody wants to see right now is Jones and Aspinall.
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“And then there’s no doubt that Pereira could fight the winner.”
White’s update on Jones vs Aspinall comes a little over a month after he admitted the promotion could contemplate STRIPPING the former if negotiations dragged into the summer.
When asked if the UFC brass consider relieving Jones of the belt, White told The MacLife: “One hundred per cent.
“If we don’t get the fight done, we move on, and we make another fight.
“But not last night, but the night before, I was up in my room with my people until like 6 in the morning.
“We’re working on lots of stuff right now. There’s lots of really good sh*t going on right now.”
Former long-reigning light-heavyweight champion Jones hasn’t fought since his sensational spinning-back kick knockout of Miocic at Madison Square Garden.
Wigan warrior Aspinall, meanwhile, has been on the sidelines since retaining his interim crown with a 60-second demolition of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last July.
The winner of Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall could end up facing Alex Pereira next[/caption]
