Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Ariel Helwani, Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones, UFC
Nasir Jabbar
Ariel Helwani has slammed UFC boss Dana White as he dropped a major update on the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga.
White provided a huge update regarding Jones' return during the UFC 316 post-fight press conference last weekend.
He claimed 'Bones' had agreed to the fight amid months of negotiations.
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But White failed to mention the whole story.
Well, that's according to Helwani, who has delivered a significant piece of news regarding the landscape of the Jones vs. Aspinall bout.
The combat sports reporter revealed Jones accepted UFC's deal after they met his massive demands.
But he states the UFC heavyweight champion went 'back on his word' and backed out of a clash against Aspinall.
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Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show on Monday, he said: "[Dana White said] Jon Jones was offered the deal and accepted the deal... the problem is he didn't tell you the whole story.
"He didn't tell you how he went back on his word. Eventually that part will come out."
White has tried to make the showdown, but Jones doesn't seem interested in fighting Aspinall but would entertain a bout against Francis Ngannou, who penned a 'multi-fight deal' with PFL after leaving the UFC.
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Jones seemingly retired before making a U-turn, but the UFC CEO said the 37-year-old had said nothing about retiring to him and that he was only interested in matching him against the Brit.
"Tom Aspinall is the guy. If the guy wants to retire and doesn't want to fight, there's nothing you can do," he added.
"I didn't want Khabib [Nurmagomedov] to retire, I thought [Daniel Cormier] should've stayed in it longer, so it's none of my business.
"I'll do what I can to make the fight, if we can, if he's talking that crazy, I didn't realise that."
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Jones, who beat Ciryl Gane to win the vacant championship following Ngannou's departure, hasn't fought since his third-round victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November.
As for Aspinall, he last fought when he defended his interim title against Curtis Blaydes last July.