Dana White: Winner of Jones v Miocic will fight Aspinall next

UFC CEO Dana White has assured fans that the winner of Jon Jones vs Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 will fight interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall next.

Both Jones (37) and Miocic (42) have previously teased retirement ahead of their fight at Madison Square Garden on November 16, but White believes they will not be able to resist one more blockbuster clash.

“I truly believe that whoever wins this fight, just competitively the way that these guys are wired and the reason that they’re both massive legends in the sport, they’re not going to just ride off into the sunset without settling the dispute with Tom Aspinall,” White said on Thursday.

“When you think about Jon Jones becoming the youngest champion in UFC history and all the things that Stipe accomplished, they were given opportunities when they were young.

“I think that they will reciprocate.”

Despite Jones holding the heavyweight belt, Aspinall has regularly insisted he is the top fighter in the division.

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In response, Jones has been largely dismissive of the Englishman.

Instead, it seems that if the American does fight again, he will have his sights set on light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

“If there were to be a fight of a guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it but legacy worth it, it would be Alex Pereira,” Jones said on Thursday.

“Alex Pereira and I, we’re both 37 years old.

“Right now, I weigh about 235 pounds. I’m an incredibly light heavyweight.

“I think Pereira walks around at 240.

“I think that fight would go much farther on my legacy than a young man who’s cool today and maybe gone tomorrow.”

UFC betting sites have installed Jones as a -625 favourite to prevail in New York, with Miocic paying long odds of +450 to claim the heavyweight crown for a third time.

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