UFC star Blachowicz says Jones avoiding Aspinall matchup

Former light heavyweight champion Jan Blachowicz believes that the most anticipated UFC fight of 2025 will not happen, because Jon Jones is scared to fight Tom Aspinall.

Jones is the reigning heavyweight champion, having beaten Ciryl Gane in 2023 to claim the title then defending it against Stipe Miocic in late 2024.

During that time, Tom Aspinall recorded emphatic first-round wins over Marcin Tybura, Sergei Pavlovich and Curtis Blaydes, gaining the interim heavyweight belt and establishing himself as the man to beat in the division.

However, Jones has consistently expressed his reluctance to fight the Englishman, preferring a fight against light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira instead.

“I think [Jon Jones] does this because Alex Pereira is now a big star in the UFC,” Blachowicz said.

“Everybody knows him. He knows what he’s doing.

“But I believe he should fight against Aspinall, but I think he’s a little bit afraid of him.”

While no fight is set, some UFC bookmakers are offering early betting odds on Jones v Aspinall.

The majority of these have Aspinall as a favourite, paying $1.78 for the challenger to hand Jones his first defeat in the Octagon.

“Because Aspinall is someone who can really stop him and beat him,” Blachowicz continued.

“I think he believes if he can fight against Pereira, he can take him down, control him, maybe something like this.

“With Aspinall, it will be not so easy.

“It would be a very tough fight for Jon Jones with Aspinall.

“That’s why, he knows what’s going to happen, that’s why he doesn’t talk too much about Aspinall.

“But we will see. Maybe they’ve got some plans for them.

“Maybe they are waiting, money will be bigger and they take the fight.”

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