Jon Jones` tenure as UFC heavyweight champion remains a hot topic in the world of MMA.
Despite holding the heavyweight title for two years, Jones has defended it only once. This defense against Stipe Miocic sparked controversy, drawing criticism as he chose to fight Miocic instead of interim champion Tom Aspinall.
Months after the Miocic fight, Jones continues to disregard Aspinall and their anticipated title unification bout.
This situation has led to strong fan backlash, with many demanding that Jones either face Aspinall or relinquish the heavyweight belt.
Amanda Nunes Offers Perspective on Stripping Jon Jones` Title
Former two-division UFC champion Amanda Nunes was present in New Jersey for the recent UFC 316 event.
At the event, Julianna Pena and Kayla Harrison competed for the women`s bantamweight title. It is widely speculated that the winner, either Pena or Harrison, could be Nunes` opponent for a potential comeback fight.
Nunes, known as `The Lioness`, made a surprising decision to retire from her `champ-champ` status after successfully defending her 135-pound belt against Irene Aldana in June 2023.
Many quickly predicted her return, and plans for a comeback appear to be taking shape for 2025.
During a UFC fan Q&A session in Newark, Nunes was asked for her opinion on whether Jones should be stripped of his heavyweight title.
Citing her own experience of stepping away from UFC championships to consider her future, the Brazilian fighter advised Jones to potentially do the same.
“You know, I would consider that approach myself. If I hadn’t retired, I would have essentially held up the division,” Nunes stated. “I could have remained champion, but I wouldn`t have been in a position to fight.”
“I would have been waiting for a year and a half for the belt, and the other fighters would have been waiting for me until I figured things out. So I simply retired.”
“I know I can reclaim the belt whenever I choose to, so I retired and planned to return later,” Nunes added. “Perhaps he (Jones) could relinquish that belt and see what develops down the line.”
Fan Petition to Strip Jon Jones Exceeds 185,000 Signatures
Launched just a few weeks ago, a fan petition urging the UFC to strip Jones of his heavyweight title continues to gather a significant number of supporters.
Starting with around 20,000 signatures in its first week, the petition has rapidly passed numerous milestones. It recently surpassed 185,000 signatures and is quickly approaching the 200,000 mark.
The petition`s description highlights:
“Jon Jones currently holds the record for the longest reign as UFC heavyweight champion but has only competed twice during this time.”
“There is a recognized interim champion, Tom Aspinall, who has defended his interim title. Aspinall is willing to fight Jones, but Jones is declining the bout.”
“Consequently, as fans, we must convey to Dana White that it is time to strip Jon Jones of the heavyweight title. He appears to have no immediate plans to fight.”
Online, Jones has seemingly dismissed the petition, asserting that he is indifferent to demands for him to be stripped, referencing previous occasions where he vacated the UFC light heavyweight title.
The status of the UFC heavyweight title remains uncertain. However, Aspinall`s recent claims that Jones has retired suggest that the likelihood of his `dream` fight against the champion is diminishing daily.
Percy Harlow