Jon Jones Doesn’t Care If UFC Strips Him of Heavyweight Belt, Says Head UFC Commentator Jon Anik originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Jon Jones, who hasn’t defended the belt since defeating Stipe Miocic in November 2024, has repeatedly frustrated UFC fans as well as interim champion Tom Aspinall. It has come to the point that a petition to strip Jones of the title has now surpassed 200,000 signatures. Jones has dismissed the petition with humor, even jokingly encouraging fans to sign it. While he may have been joking, the UFC’s premiere commentator suggests that Jones might actually want to be stripped of the title.
At the UFC 316 pre-fight press conference on June 5, 2025, veteran commentator Jon Anik gave his opinion about the ongoing saga between heavyweight champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall.
Anik, standing in for UFC CEO Dana White, expressed his belief that Jones wouldn’t be bothered if the UFC stripped him of the heavyweight belt amid growing fan frustration over the delayed unification bout.
He stated, “I don’t know that Jon Jones really gives a rip if they strip him of the heavyweight championship.”
The comment comes at an opportune time when UFC fans are dissatisfied with Jones’ status as the undisputed heavyweight champion despite a lack of activity, fueled by Aspinall’s insistence that the division move forward.
Anik clarified, “He’s still going to fight Tom, hopefully, and it’s still going to be a bag.”
Aspinall, meanwhile, has grown increasingly vocal about his impatience, declaring Jones “retired” and urging the UFC to book him against another contender. The interim champion’s frustration is understandable—he’s been sidelined since his July 2024 knockout of Curtis Blaydes, while Jones has teased a return without committing to a date.
The UFC’s reluctance to strip Jones outright may stem from the promotional upside of a clash between two champions.
“I think a fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is bigger if they are both champions,” Anik added. “I’m hopeful they’re going to fight in December in Las Vegas. I have no inside information.”
With no possible date in sight, it appears the UFC brass has left the heavyweight division in limbo.
Despite this, Jones’s star power and GOAT status afford him leverage, even as critics argue that the credibility of his record-breaking championship reign is eroding.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
