The Year is 2052: Jon Jones, the Eternal Champion—The Greatest or the Biggest Hoax in UFC History?

It’s the year 2052, and Jon Jones has been the UFC Heavyweight Champion for an astonishing 29 years. His name is still uttered in reverence—or ridicule—depending on whom you ask. Despite reigning for nearly three decades, Jones has only defended his title four times.

Yet, Dana White insists he’s still the most active fighter on the roster. Injuries, contract negotiations, and “bigger fights” have kept him sidelined, but according to the UFC President, “Jon is still the baddest man on the planet.”

Meanwhile, another name looms in the shadows—Tom Aspinall, the man who held the Interim Heavyweight Championship for 26 years, with an unbelievable 71 title defenses. But despite his historic run, he never got his shot at the real belt.

Why? Because Jon Jones never said yes.

Is this the most controversial era in UFC history? Has Jon Jones proven his greatness, or is this the biggest sham title reign the sport has ever seen?

A Title Reign Like No Other—Or a Reign of Absurdity?

Four Title Defenses in 29 Years?

History books will always acknowledge Jon Jones’ title reign, but when future generations look at the details, they’ll see an unbelievable statistic:

🔹 Four defenses in 29 years.

🔹 One title defense every 7.25 years.

🔹 Zero fights in the last five years.

Yet, according to Dana White, Jones is still active.

At every press conference, Dana defends the legacy of “Bones.” He rages against the AI-generated pound-for-pound rankings, calling them “a joke” because they don’t have Jones at #1.

“You guys don’t understand. Jon Jones is still the greatest fighter of all time. He’s just had a few setbacks.”

Setbacks? Or carefully curated opportunities?

Who Did Jon Jones Actually Defend Against?

Over the years, Jones has repeatedly said that he only fights legends. But the list of his actual title defenses tells a different story:

🔹 42-year-old Stipe Miocic – A fight Jones took after a three-year layoff.

🔹 52-year-old Brock Lesnar – Promoted as “The Biggest Heavyweight Fight Ever.” Lesnar had last fought in 2016.

🔹 70-year-old Bas Rutten – The UFC brought back a legend… who hadn’t fought since the early 2000s.

🔹 72-year-old Fedor Emelianenko – Somehow cleared to fight, despite being older than the UFC itself.

Jones has consistently claimed he was fighting “the best.” But with each fight, fans became more skeptical.

So what about the one man everyone wanted to see him fight?

Tom Aspinall: The Greatest Heavyweight to Never Get His Shot

The 26-Year Reign That Meant Nothing

If Jon Jones was the king, then Tom Aspinall was the rightful heir who never sat on the throne.

After becoming Interim Heavyweight Champion in 2024, Aspinall went on a run unlike anything in UFC history:

🔹 71 title defenses.

🔹 An undefeated record for over two decades.

🔹 Wins over every top contender, new and old.

And yet, despite being the longest-reigning active champion in UFC history, Dana White refused to unify the titles.

When asked about Aspinall’s legacy, Dana’s response was as brutal as it was absurd:

“We don’t owe this kid anything, least of all the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is for undisputed champions, and that’s Jon. Maybe if we ever make an ‘Interim Hall of Fame,’ Tom can join.”

The disrespect was unreal. But the truth was undeniable—Tom Aspinall was the greatest heavyweight who never got his chance.

Jones vs. Aspinall: The Fight That Never Happened

Jones did sign a contract to fight Aspinall once. But just one week before the fight, he pulled out, claiming he needed six more months to prepare.

Aspinall waited.

Jones never signed again.

Instead, he kept his belt and continued dodging the one fight that would have cemented his greatness.

Now, over four months have passed since the UFC began negotiations again, and once again, Jones has not said yes.

However, he did inform the UFC that if he does sign, he’ll need six more months to train—pushing the fight back another 10 to 12 months.

Is this just another stall tactic? Or will Jones finally step into the octagon with the one man who could dethrone him?

The UFC’s Most Bizarre Era—Where Does This All End?

Jon Jones Set to Break a Historic Record—But at What Cost?

In May 2052, Jon Jones will officially break the record for the longest heavyweight title reign in UFC history.

The previous record? Stipe Miocic lost his title on his fourth defense.

Jones? He’ll reach the milestone with just one defense in the last decade.

The Final Insult—Royce Gracie as the Next Challenger?

The latest rumor shocking the MMA world?

🔹 Dana White is reportedly negotiating a title fight between Jon Jones and Royce Gracie.

Yes, Royce Gracie—the man who won UFC 1 back in 1993.

Now, at 85 years old, he’s rumored to be Jones’ next opponent.

Dana has already begun justifying it:

“If you guys don’t respect what Royce has done for the sport, I don’t know what to tell you.”

This is where we are in 2052.

• The interim champion with 71 defenses isn’t in the Hall of Fame.

• The undisputed champion fights retirees and ghosts.

• Dana White still insists that Jon Jones is the most active fighter in the UFC.

And yet, fans keep waiting for the one fight that actually matters.

The Greatest Heavyweight of All Time… or the Greatest Avoidance of All Time?

There is no denying Jon Jones’ legacy. He is one of the most talented fighters to ever step foot in the octagon.

But his heavyweight reign will always have an asterisk.

• Did he truly defend his belt against the best?

• Or did he manufacture a title reign built on smoke and mirrors?

The Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall saga is MMA’s greatest “what if?”.

And with Jones pushing the fight back again, fans are left wondering if it will ever happen—or if Jon Jones will retire with his belt, never having defended it against the one man who could beat him.

One thing is certain: The longer he waits, the more his legacy is questioned.

Will Jon Jones finally face Tom Aspinall? Or will this be remembered as the greatest title reign that never truly happened?

The MMA world is watching. The clock is ticking.