Overview

• Aspinall said the UFC told him a Jones bout was three months away on several occasions, only for the dates to be moved each time.
• The champion described being "hands completely tied" by the promotion as he began multiple camps before Jones retired in June.
• Aspinall’s first undisputed title defense is set for Oct. 25 against former interim champion Ciryl Gane at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
• Gane said prior title-fight experiences with Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones have eased the pressure of this buildup and will aid his preparation.
• Jones has re-entered the drug-testing pool and is signaling a 2026 return while seeking a spot on a proposed White House event, a plan Dana White has publicly questioned as Daniel Cormier backs Jones’s inclusion.