Apparently, the Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall came close to coming to fruition.
UFC CEO Dana White revealed more details on the timeline in the failed negotiations of the UFC heavyweight title unification bout, which came to an end Saturday with Jones’ retirement. White claims the fight “was done,” however, something happened on Jones’ side and the bout fell through. White isn’t sure if Jones’ latest legal troubles served as a catalyst for the situation.
“I saw (Jones’ legal news Sunday). When I saw it today, I thought, ‘Every one is going to think that’s why he retired,'” White told the Mac Life and other reporters Sunday at the Canelo vs. Crawford news conference in New York. “Maybe that is why he retired. Who the hell knows, man. I don’t know. These are all questions you have to ask him. We had the fight done. You saw me talking about it very confidently, that this fight was going to happen, and then he changed his mind.”
White revealed the news of Jones retiring Saturday during the UFC on ABC 8 post-fight press conference, putting an end to a frustrating saga that had fans waiting for a title unification bout at heavyweight for almost two years. Many fans accused Jones, and continue to do so, of “ducking” Aspinall, given the lack of interest in fighting him despite being the interim heavyweight champion of the UFC.
White is not part of that group.
“No, (he’s not ducking Tom Aspinall),” White said. “Jon Jones, I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll say it again: He’s never ducked anybody other than that one goofy time with the Chael Sonnen thing (at UFC 151). He’s never ducked anybody and I think the reality of it is, whatever changed his mind with this fight, you’d have to ask him that. He’s 38 years old, and I don’t know.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Dana White on failed Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones UFC title fight