Jon Jones could break astonishing UFC record set by Cain Velasquez if he avoids Tom Aspinall

Jon Jones could claim another UFC record if he continues to delay a fight with Tom Aspinall.

Jones is the UFC heavyweight champion and is allegedly demanding at least six months to prepare for an Aspinall mega-fight.

‘Bones’ has been urged by several members of the MMA community to get on with proceedings and unify the UFC’s heavyweight division.

However, he has never publicly admitted interest in taking on Britain's 31-year-old heavyweight giant.

British UFC legend Michael Bisping even asserted that Jones should retire from the sport altogether if he refuses to fight Aspinall.

UFC CEO Dana White has insisted numerous times that the fight will happen and even made a ‘100 per cent’ guarantee that the two heavyweights would eventually meet in his Octagon.

As of March 24, 2025 Jones has been the champion for 750 days since winning the belt by submitting Ciryl Gane in March 2023.

The 37-year-old has defended his strap just once during that period, stopping Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November with a nasty spinning kick.

Currently, Cain Velasquez holds the record as the longest-reigning UFC heavyweight champion, having held the belt for 896 days during his second stint as champion.

Therefore, if Jones pushes back his fight until the week beginning Monday, August 18, 2025 he will have set a brand-new record.

Reports have also suggested Jones vs Aspinall could take place in September, meaning the former is likely to achieve the feat.

Velasquez won the heavyweight strap by knocking out Brock Lesnar at UFC 121 in October 2010 but lost it in his next fight to Junior Dos Santos 13 months later.

He then won it back by defeating Dos Santos in their December 2012 rematch and retained it against Antonio Silva five months later.

The MMA legend then defended it again in his trilogy bout with Dos Santos in October 2013 but lost it on his return to the UFC, following an injury, to Fabricio Werdum in June 2015.

Aspinall was present in the capital all week for UFC London and to continue talks with his bosses regarding the Jones fight.

He went viral this past weekend during UFC London for holding up a duck toy when the camera showed him on the O2 Arena's big screens, as he claims Jones is 'ducking' a fight with him.

Speaking ahead of his commentary duties at UFC London, Manchester's Bisping offered a brutal assessment of the Jones' situation.

“Not that Tom wants any sympathy from me, but I really feel for the guy,” the  UFC pundit said.

“He's in the prime of his life. He should be fighting regularly. He's in the gym every day. He's very humble.

“He is the interim champion of the world. He’s defended the interim championship status. The heavyweight champion of the world fought in November. Why they haven't made this matchup is beyond me.”

The 46-year-old added: "He's been an incredible champion, but he needs to hurry up with this fight. Simple as that. Or retire.”

Jones sits ahead of fellow legends Georges St-Pierre and Demetrious Johnson for the most title fight wins in UFC history with 16.

He is also the youngest-ever UFC champion, having defeated Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua at UFC 128 at the age of 24, less than three years after he turned professional.