“I was hooked from the first show, and I believe this is going to be a powerhouse in combat sports. I’m proud to attach my name to it,” said UFC reigning heavyweight champion Jon Jones, marking a new chapter in his career. While fans eagerly await his heavyweight title unification bout, ‘Bones’ is making a strategic business move, following in the footsteps of UFC megastar Conor McGregor. As reported by TMZ, Jones has signed a deal with Mike Perry’s Dirty Boxing Promotion.
At the moment, the Albuquerque native is seeking to delay his highly anticipated fight with Tom Aspinall, the interim champion who has been waiting for nearly 500 days. Originally, Dana White & the UFC planned for Jon Jones vs. the Brit to take place this summer during UFC International Fight Week, coinciding with UFC 317. However, MMA veteran journalist Ariel Helwani reported this week, citing insider sources, that ‘Bones’ has requested up to six months of preparation before facing Aspinall. “It might be like, what, September?” Helwani confirmed.
In the meantime, Jones has taken on a new role as co-owner of Dirty Boxing Promotion. The venture was inspired by the success of Mike Perry in BKFC and his collaboration with Jones’ longtime management team, led by Malki Kawa and Abe Kawa. The promotion made its debut in November in Miami via a private boxing showcase featuring former UFC title challenger Yoel Romero. Recently, the Michigan native welcomed the reigning heavyweight champion to the promotion as co-owner, sharing his excitement on Dirty Boxing’s social media, writing: “Business is booming.”
This weekend, the promotion is making its return with the DBX 1 event in Miami. The first official DBX 1 event tomorrow will feature 13 fights, with the headline clash between Yoel Romero and Rashad Hylton in the heavyweight division. TMZ reports that Jon Jones will play a role in the event, adding star power alongside Paige VanZant and Nicky Jam.
While the Albuquerque native embarks on this new business venture, MMA journalist Ariel Helwani has voiced concerns about the long-awaited Jones vs. Tom Aspinall fight. Let’s delve into what Helwani is worried about regarding this potential matchup.
Ariel Helwani expresses concerns over delay in Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall unification bout
Remember what happened with UFC megastar Conor McGregor‘s long-awaited return to the Octagon at UFC 303 against Michael Chandler? The fight was built on the anticipation of the fans, and Michael Chandler had been waiting for an extended period of time. However, in the end, McGregor’s “pinky toe” injury led him to pull out of the fight, which then caused multiple delays, pushing the fight further into the future and leaving it in limbo. During that time, the Irishman was also enjoying his financial success after becoming a part-owner of the BKFC promotion.
Now, Jon Jones has signed with Dirty Boxing as a co-owner, starting his retirement plan as the heavyweight GOAT at 37 years old. His recent decision to give himself more preparation time for his next fight has raised questions among fans, Dana White, and the UFC. ‘Bones’ already defended his title four months ago, so why the delay?
Talks have already started regarding the delay in the title unification bout between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Ariel Helwani recently expressed his concerns about the situation, stating, “They don’t care about Tom’s timeline. They don’t care about it at all, and that worries me. If they tell Tom, ‘Just sit tight, you’re getting this fight, you’ll have to wait a couple of months,’ and then those months pass and it still doesn’t happen—does that sound familiar? Chandler-McGregor? Then what happens next?”
What’s your take on Jon Jones’ new side quest? Do you believe the reigning heavyweight kingpin will eventually face Tom Aspinall, or will the Englishman end up in a situation similar to Michael Chandler’s with Conor McGregor? Share your thoughts below.
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