Though it may not take place in the near future, there is a slight favoritism towards Jon Jones in a potential fight against freshly minted interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall. The online oddsmaker, BetOnline, has projected Jones as the favored one (at -140) for his bout versus Aspinall who is positioned as an underdog with +120. There is a pronounced difference when one compares these odds to those for Jones against Stipe Miocic, where “Bones” Jones is significantly favored at -400.
For the odds on the Jones vs. Aspinall fight to hold, the match must take place before August 31, 2024. However, these odds are not set in stone as they are likely to change depending on a variety of external situations. Conversely, it is highly expected that Jones will stand to defend his heavyweight title next year against Miocic once he recovers from a recent training injury – a torn pectoral muscle. Jones, targeting Miocic, who holds the lasting title defense record at heavyweight as a legacy fight, has received the backing of the UFC’s CEO, Dana White, who has insisted that the fight will be rescheduled at a future date.
Aspinall won the interim title champion by defeating Sergei Pavlovich with a 69-second knock-out in the co-main event of the UFC 295. Aspinall, who is from England, has openly expressed his desire to take on Jones but it looks like he may have to wait until Miocic gets his chance. Furthermore, there is a chance Jones might retire from MMA after his duel with the Ohio-based firefighter Miocic. Jones, reflecting on his current position from the sidelines due to his injury, has acknowledged the valuable perspective this has afforded him. He shared on social media, “God is good when I’m winning world championships, God is also good when I miss out on nights like last night sitting on the sideline injured. I’m just grateful for this life he’s allowed me to live. Blinders on, thank you Jesus.”