On a recent episode of ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith asked Dana White what matchups he wanted to see most in 2025.
He said he desires to see the heavyweight bout between UFC heavyweight champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones and interim champion Tom Aspinall next year.
White went into detail, saying, “That’s the biggest fight in heavyweight history, and at the end of the day, what my job is, is to give the fans what they want, and that’s what the fans want.”
This past weekend, he expressed his sentiments in a post-fight press conference after UFC Tampa.
When asked about the negotiations of the fight, White confirmed that details were still being worked out.
“Yeah, I’ll say 100 percent [guaranteed],” White said to the media. White also addressed rumors about Jones’ recent public comments that White is making fight negotiations difficult.
He said, “What’s weird about that—let me tell you what’s weird about that-So, usually, those guys say that s*** behind the scenes, but not publicly. Jon says that s*** publicly but not behind the scenes.”
White continued, “Jon is a very unique individual to deal with [in booking fights]. From day one, I have been confident that Jon Jones would do that fight. Right? Even before the fight against [Stipe Miocic], I said if he won, there’s no way Jon doesn’t do this fight. Jon Jones isn’t afraid to fight anybody, and that’s a fact.”
White did not give a date or a timetable as to when the fight would happen next year.
