‘There’s a way to go’ – Conor McGregor picks sides over Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall drama

MMA fans are clambering to see Jones defend his UFC heavyweight title against interim champion Aspinall, however, the 36-year-old looks set to face Stipe Miocic in his next outing instead.

Jones was expected to do battle with the former long-reigning heavyweight king last November but their title clash was cancelled after Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle in training.

The expectation is that their fight will be booked at the back end of this year while Aspinall defends his interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC Manchester on July 27.

After this, Aspinall should finally get his shot at the undisputed crown.

Fans and fighters have been very critical of Jones’ perceived ‘avoidance’ of Aspinall.

But McGregor isn’t one of them, with the Irishman saying during a live stream: “Thoughts on (Jon) Jones avoiding (Tom) Aspinall? I disagree with that, I think the Jones [versus] Stipe (Miocic) fight is huge.“

“I’m excited to see it. There’s a way to go for the English lad to come up and get that [title].

“I think the matchmaking has been stellar, I think Curtis (Blaydes) and Tom is a good fight and you know, we’ll see after that.”

Aspinall faced Blaydes in July 2022 yet he was rendered unable to continue after tearing his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in the opening 15 seconds of the contest.

He has campaigned relentlessly for the Jones fight over the last few months but his patience has been worn thin.

“I’m over it at this point. I’m fighting Curtis Blaydes and it’s a tough fight and I’m preparing for Curtis,” Aspinall told talkSPORT.

“Jon Jones and all the rest of the politics is pretty irrelevant right now.

“My next fight has to be for the undisputed, definitely. I’ll wait it out if I have to after this one. Right now, that doesn’t exist.

“What exists for me is Curtis Blaydes and nothing more. I’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it.”

-- talkSPORT