At UFC 309, Jon Jones made a statement against Stipe Miocic. Coming off a year-long hiatus due to a pectoral tendon tear, ‘Bones’ dismantled the former 2-time heavyweight champion with a vicious body kick in the third round. What happened next? During the post-fight interview, Jones took the microphone and stated, “As far as my future in the Octagon, I decided that maybe I will not retire and that I have some conversations that I have to have with Dana (White) and Hunter (Campbell) and we have some negotiating to do.”

While Jones didn’t clarify who his next challenger would be, he did hint that, “…if everything goes right, maybe we’ll give you guys what you want to see”. As such, recently fans questioned his future and the choices he’s made as a fighter. True to form, ‘Bones’ fired back with bold words that left the MMA world buzzing.

“So, you’re retiring?” one fan asked, echoing the whispers that have grown louder since Jones teased stepping away from the sport during the build-up to his clash against Miocic. His reply was as strategic as his fights, “I’d probably vacate the belt before officially retiring. Let’s see how my meeting with UFC goes.” It’s classic Jones—cryptic, yet calculated.

But for some fans, the uncertainty wasn’t enough. “Success is when you stop ducking,” another jabbed, clearly referencing the matchup fans are dying to see, Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall. Jones didn’t flinch. “Call me a duck for the next year,” he retorted, predicting that Aspinall would lose “within the next two or three fights,” and that his own legacy would remain untouched.

Fans have questioned his place in the GOAT conversation, especially after Tom Aspinall’s interim heavyweight title win. Aspinall hailed as the division’s future, has been vocal about wanting to fight Jones to unify. But Jones has remained elusive, hinting at retirement instead of accepting the challenge. Is it fear, or is it strategy? It remains to be seen.

Yet, even as the undisputed heavyweight champion’s intentions remain shrouded in uncertainty, a veteran UFC commentator has now come out and proclaimed that the UFC and Dana White have to set up this clash between generations in 2025!

Jon Anik believes UFC has “got to” set up Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall at International Fight Week 2025

Heading into UFC 309, fans and analysts speculated that Jon Jones’s showdown with Stipe Miocic might be the final chapter in his legendary career. Yet, as the dust settled on his third-round TKO victory, it became clear Jones wasn’t ready to hang up his gloves. For Jon Anik, the natural next step is clear.

Speaking to MMA Junkie, the UFC commentator confessed, “This is the fight, even though Jon Jones isn’t the natural heavyweight in body that Tom Aspinall is, he’s not going to fight Alex Pereira right now. He’s going to fight Tom Aspinall.”

Of course, no fight with Jon Jones comes without its hurdles, and this time, the hurdle is “f—- you money.” Jones has made it clear that he wants a payday worthy of his GOAT status. What does that mean? Anik speculated, “What is the greatest of all time worth? I feel like the company is in a great position to make this fight, and I think you’ve got to do Las Vegas. You’ve got to do International Fight Week 2025.”

The stage is set, but will the pieces fall into place? The allure of International Fight Week 2025 in Las Vegas adds glitter to an already golden opportunity, but the price tag remains the elephant in the room. Jon Jones, ever the enigma, has left fans with more questions than answers. Is he strategically paving the way for the ultimate clash with Tom Aspinall, or is he playing his final hand before bowing out? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.