Dana White Drops Bombshell: Jon Jones’ UFC Return Date Finally Revealed!

Dana White Lays Out Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Fight Plan with Alex Pereira Twist

The UFC Heavyweight Shake-Up: What’s Really Happening?

The UFC heavyweight division is on the brink of a monumental shift. After months of speculation, Dana White has finally provided clarity on the future of Jon Jones, Tom Aspinall, and a surprising wildcard—Alex Pereira.

According to White, Jon Jones will return to the Octagon this summer to defend his heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall. However, there’s an intriguing twist—White has also confirmed that should Alex Pereira successfully defend his light heavyweight title at UFC 313, he could be next in line for a shot at the winner.

But with Jones‘ reluctance to face Aspinall, the looming possibility of Pereira moving up to heavyweight, and Dana White’s firm stance on keeping the division active, there’s more to this story than meets the eye.

Will Jon Jones finally step into the cage with Aspinall, or will Pereira leapfrog his way into a historic superfight? The answers may be coming sooner than we think.

The Fight Fans Have Been Demanding: Jones vs. Aspinall

The UFC has been aggressively pushing for Jon Jones to defend his heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall ever since the British powerhouse secured the interim belt in 2023. MMA fans have been clamoring for this matchup, eager to see how the rising Aspinall would fare against arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.

But despite the demand, the fight has faced delays. Aspinall himself has spoken openly about the frustrating wait, insisting that the hold-up isn’t on his end.

“I’m chasing it. I want the fight. I’ve been on record and said that I want the fight. I’ve been on the phone with the UFC saying, ‘I want the fight. When’s it happening?’” Aspinall said in a recent YouTube video.

He went even further, placing the blame squarely on Jones’ camp.

“I want the fight more than anyone. What is holding it up right now is his side. That’s the truth of it. The UFC really, really want the fight to happen.”

The delay has fueled speculation that Jones isn’t as eager to face Aspinall as some might think. After his impressive victory over Stipe Miocic at UFC 309, Jones made it clear he was more interested in a fight against Alex Pereira than defending his heavyweight title against the interim champion.

“I’m not really thinking about Aspinall,” Jones stated during his post-fight press conference. “Pereira makes sense.”

But Dana White isn’t letting the narrative run wild. Speaking to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, White assured fans that Jones will return and fight anyone the UFC puts in front of him.

“Jon Jones will fight anyone, don’t let the internet fool you about Jon Jones,” White said.

White then confirmed that Jones would be back in action this summer, seemingly locking in a showdown with Aspinall—at least for now.

Enter Alex Pereira: A Dark Horse in the Heavyweight Race

The wildcard in this entire scenario is Alex Pereira. The Brazilian knockout artist has been a dominant force in the light heavyweight division, and his upcoming title defense at UFC 313 against Magomed Ankalaev could have major implications for the heavyweight picture.

White recently made waves when he suggested that Pereira could fight the winner of Jones vs. Aspinall. This is a significant shift from his stance just a few months ago, when he emphatically dismissed the idea of Pereira moving up.

“There’s no f***ing way,” White had said in November when asked about Pereira fighting Jones.

But White is also known for being open to blockbuster fights if the demand is high enough. In a recent appearance on the Jim Rome Show, White hinted at a potential change in direction.

“Pereira wants to [fight Jones],” White told Rome. “But let’s see how this fight [with Ankalaev] plays out. If he wins, how he wins, and all that kind of stuff.”

This opens the door for a fascinating possibility—could Pereira become a two-division champion? If he dominates Ankalaev, the push for him to move up to heavyweight could be impossible to ignore.

One thing is clear: White is keeping his options open. And if Jones refuses to fight Aspinall, White has already confirmed that he won’t hesitate to strip the future Hall of Famer of his belt.

“If Jones doesn’t want the fight, we move on,” White stated. “No one holds up a division.”

Should Pereira defeat Ankalaev, his next step could very well be a move to heavyweight—and that means a potential showdown with either Jones or Aspinall.

The High-Stakes Future of the Heavyweight Division

With Jones vs. Aspinall seemingly set for this summer, the heavyweight division is approaching a turning point. The outcome of that fight will determine the fate of Pereira, who, if victorious at UFC 313, could find himself in the mix for a historic superfight.

But what happens if Jones continues to resist the fight with Aspinall? The UFC has made it clear that they won’t wait around. If necessary, Jones could be stripped of his title, setting up Aspinall vs. Pereira for the undisputed heavyweight championship.

And if that happens, the UFC would be witnessing one of the most dramatic heavyweight title shifts in its history.

The stakes are higher than ever, and the entire MMA world is watching. Will Jon Jones step up and fight Aspinall? Will Pereira secure his title and move up for a shot at greatness? Or will we see an unprecedented shake-up that redefines the division?

One thing is certain—this summer is going to be explosive.

Stay tuned, because the UFC’s heavyweight landscape is about to change forever.