Recent reports indicate that Jon Jones has officially withdrawn from his highly anticipated heavyweight title fight against Tom Aspinall. As a result, Aspinall will now be taking on a different competitor at UFC 317 this summer.

This week, excitement grew around the potential clash between Jones and Aspinall for the heavyweight championship, with the fight nearly set to be confirmed.

The buildup for this title unification bout has been intense, especially following Aspinall’s impressive knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich, which earned him the interim heavyweight title back in November 2023.

However, just days after the fight was seemingly on track, Jones made the decision to step back. Reports from UFC veteran Chael Sonnen reveal that Aspinall will now defend his interim title against former title challenger Ciryl Gane at UFC 317 in Las Vegas.

Sonnen noted that Jones has requested a six-month preparation period for his next title defense, which would be his second since winning the championship over two years ago. Meanwhile, Aspinall is keen to remain active and is ready to fight sooner, prompting the matchup with Gane.

Whoever wins the Aspinall vs. Gane showdown in June is expected to challenge Jones for the heavyweight title later in the year, once Jones feels prepared to return to action.

While Sonnen recognized Aspinall’s eagerness to compete, he voiced concerns about the risks involved, particularly the possibility of Aspinall losing to Gane and thus complicating the anticipated fight with Jones.

If Jones were to face Gane instead of Aspinall, it could lead to disappointment, especially considering their previous bout where Jones emerged victorious. The excitement surrounding a potential face-off with Aspinall would likely fade in such a scenario.