While retirement talks loom large in the aftermath of Jon Jones’
upcoming heavyweight title fight against Stipe
Miocic, UFC CEO Dana White isn’t so sure that would be the best
move for either athlete.
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While Jones and Miocic were originally scheduled to fight at
UFC 295 this past November, “Bones” was forced out due to a
torn pectoral muscle. Tom
Aspinall went on to defeat Russian knockout artist Sergei
Pavlovich in an interim title booking that was put together at
the last moment.
Jones was also offered a slot for UFC
300 in April but turned it down, as he wouldn’t recover in time
from a recent elbow surgery. With no timeline in sight for Jones’
return, Aspinall initially called for the champ to be stripped of
the title and has since been rallying for a booking against either
“Bones” or Miocic.
However, judging by their stance over recent months, there is a lot
of speculation about both Jones and Miocic retiring after their
clash.
According to White, the winner of the heavyweight title fight must
give the interim champ a shot at the unified belt in order to
cement their G.O.A.T status.
“Yes, this summer it should happen,” White told Maxx Crosby. “It’s
interesting [on the retirement aspect]. I think it depends on who
wins. I mean, either guy that wins, how do you not fight
Aspinall?
“I think there’s a — it’s almost like a courtesy, if you will. If
you’re looked at as one of the G.O.A.T.s, whoever wins this fight,
it’s almost like a courtesy thing to give that guy the shot. Give
him an opportunity to win or you win and it just absolutely
cements… nobody can poke holes in [the legacy] that nobody can
say anything about it.”