Overview

• Dana White told The Jim Rome Show that talks with Jon Jones must conclude in the coming weeks or the UFC will “move on quickly.”
• The promotion has acceded to Jones’s reported demand for a payday exceeding $10 million but has not secured his commitment to fight interim champion Tom Aspinall.
• Aspinall has voiced mounting frustration at the delay and is weighing alternative title defenses after remaining inactive since July 2024.
• Jones has not competed since November 2024, has hinted at retirement while filming a reality show in Thailand and requested an extended break.
• The UFC risks stripping Jones of his undisputed title if no agreement is reached and is considering other marquee matchups such as a bout with Francis Ngannou.