Jones goes after Aspinall: 'Sit down and create your own legacy'

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has had enough of Tom Aspinall's callouts and attempts to shut down the Stipe Miocic fight.

Jones blasted Aspinall in a since-deleted Instagram video early Tuesday morning, one day after he underwent surgery on his left elbow. It was Jones' second procedure in the past four months after a torn pectoral tendon took him out of a scheduled UFC 295 title defense against Miocic.

"I'm over here fresh off the operation table, and you're making attacks over the internet, framing yourself as if I'm running from you, even though I announced potentially retiring before you beat Sergei (Pavlovich)," Jones said, directing his words at Aspinall. "I didn't know which one of you guys was gonna win. The story has still been the same."

Aspinall's patience has worn thin with UFC CEO Dana White planning to reschedule the fight between Jones and Miocic later in 2024. The Englishman captured the interim heavyweight belt in November by knocking out Pavlovich in a short-notice bout at UFC 295 and believes he should be next for a crack at the undisputed belt. Two months ago, Aspinall called for the promotion to strip Jones of the title. He also recently ranted about Miocic getting the next title shot on social media.

But Jones, one of the greatest fighters in MMA history, thinks Aspinall should stay in his own lane.

"I became champion when you were 18 years old," Jones said. "I've been here for years. I don't know where you've been this whole time, but I've always been here. You beat (former UFC heavyweight champion) Andrei Arlovski when you were, what, 27 (years old) and he was 42? Outside of that, what else have you done? You beat Sergei. That's the only thing you've done. Bro, sit down and create your own legacy."

Jones continued to sound off on Aspinall on the platform X:

Aspinall responded to Jones on Tuesday and seemed puzzled by the champion's comments:

Jones fired back at the interim champ Tuesday afternoon.

"Tom, you talking about someone's ego running wild is one of the most hypocritical things ever," Jones tweeted. "You literally haven't kept my balls out of your mouth since you won that imaginary championship. Both you and Sergei have zero championships between your name(s). It's funny that you actually walk around feeling like the world champion.

"My Stipe fight was booked well before yours came along. You weren't even the backup fighter," he added. "Trust me, you're the one who is coming around here with the inflated ego and entitlement. ... The UFC, Stipe, and I have unfinished business. It's really just that simple."

Jones said last year he could retire after he fights Miocic, a former two-time champion and the greatest heavyweight in UFC history, because he wouldn't have anything left to prove. Jones reigned over the light heavyweight division for years before capturing the vacant heavyweight title in his return to action last March. The 36-year-old doubled down Tuesday on the fact he'll likely be done with fighting after Miocic.

"What I refuse to do is be like a lot of these other fighters who stuck around too long," Jones tweeted. "That just won't happen. ... I want Stipe for my resume. Outside of that, I need nothing else from this sport. I came, I saw, and I conquered."