John Jones may really want to fight in the White House, but he may have the worst timing in history after he announces his retirement and declares plans to compete again shortly after Tom Aspinel booked the fight.
Now, after the former UFC heavyweight champion confirmed plans to call his career following his recent victory this November, the saga to Pitt Jones against Aspinel and Aspinel appears to be over. A few days later, Aspinall traveled to Las Vegas and later promoted to an indisputable champion, making sure that a date and opponent were set to return to action.
But President Donald Trump, who is making fun of the fight taking place at the White House in 2026, was enough to reveal that Jones is re-entering the UFC’s anti-doping program and setting the stage for at least one appearance in his career. It may all be a matter of coincidence, but UFC legend Matt Brown says it doesn’t look like for Jones.
“I’m just like anyone else, a John Jones fan,” Brown said in the latest episode of ” Fighter jet vs. writer. “I’ve always defended him that he’s not afraid of Tom, he’s willing to fight anyone, but it’s hard to fall into that story here. For me, for me, fighting in the White House, that doesn’t do that. Enough.
“But in my opinion, I think this looks bad. I have the most respect for John. I’m always talking about it. I was kicking a guy’s ass while using cocaine. I couldn’t know that.
Jones was already facing many accusations that he had been running from his fight with Aspinel about the continued delays he actually booked a matchup before his retirement.
UFC CEO Dana White has been a continual supporter of Jones while the 38-year-old future Hall of Famer said no one was scared, but the way he played the ordeal paints a picture of him doing everything he could to avoid aspineol.
Deep down, Brown doesn’t believe he is, but Jones returns from retirement and fighting anyone other than Aspinel is still over with the same story being told.
“I’m going to be very clear. I don’t think John is scared of him or that shit or ducking that shit,” Brown said. “But if he chooses not to fight him and makes the choice — if he goes back and fights and fights, if he chooses not to fight Tom Aspinel, I don’t know if we’re saying we’re not necessarily saying it’s a bad look, but that’s what exactly it is.
“I’m going to argue at the bitter end that he chose, and perhaps not afraid. Maybe he wants a lower risk, he wants an easier payday, he wants no fear, whatever it is, he won’t be afraid, it’s not fear, he’s making a choice. Doesn’t he choose him? You have to realize that everyone is going to say you’re ducking.”
As for the UFC, Brown hopes that promotions will be excited by the prospect of retrieving Jones for at least one fight, no matter who he faces.
With Jones already giving up the heavyweight title, he no longer maintains the division, so Brown knows that when it comes to putting arguably the best fighter of all time at a marquee event like the one that takes place at the White House, the UFC can only see the dollar sign. The difference depends on Jones being able to live with himself knowing he plans to fight again, but for some reason he refuses to face aspinel.
“If I’m Dana White, I’m like a cool John, I’ll fight the person you want,” Brown said. “But if you’re John Jones, there’s no other fight. If you’re Dana White, it’s John Jones. He’s going to fight someone and that knows who he is.
“But if you’re John Jones, I can’t imagine I’d feel good about fighting other people. Dana probably wasn’t really giving an af*ck. I think Dana should have given an af*ck when he should have the title – maybe he didn’t, he probably didn’t have – he doesn’t have any now.
Due to all the amazing achievements Jones has achieved in his career, Brown acknowledges that everyone except aspinol returns and fights will change the way he remembers.
“In my opinion, his legacy is damaged,” Brown said. “Now people are saying he chose not to fight Tom Aspinel. We can argue that we are ducking and scared – I’m very suspicious of that, but I choose not to fight him.