JON JONES has issued a defiant message over his proposed showdown with Tom Aspinall.
The former pound-for-pound king has been on course for a historic heavyweight title unification bout with his interim counterpart since last November.
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The mammoth melee, however, has yet to come to fruition – despite the UFC brass meeting Jones’ demands to be paid “f**k you money.”
MMA fans have seemingly lost their patience with Jones, with several commenting on his social media posts that he’s “ducking” Aspinall.
Scores of them echoed that sentiment during the 37-year-old’s recent Instagram Live, which prompted a defiant response from the Hall-of-Famer.
He said: “I’ve got people in the chat calling me a duck. Meanwhile, I’m living my absolute best life.
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“I don’t know if it’s considered ducking when you’re living good. I don’t think it works like that.”
Jones’ comments on him “ducking” Aspinall come less than two weeks after he publicly SNUBBED retirement and insisted his best is “yet to come”.
In an Instagram post featuring a room in his house with fight posters from cards he’s fought on, he wrote: “Now, as you can see… still haven’t framed or hung the Stipe fight yet.
“Been moving a million miles an hour lately. But there’s one last perfect spot left on my wall of victory.
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“And looking at this wall, it really hits me. This isn’t just artwork.
“It’s legacy. Every poster tells a story. Different chapters.
“Different homes. Different battles. Wins that meant the world at the time. Fights that made history.
“I’ve said it before, my career hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been undeniably legendary. Epic. Special.
“Just a few words that come to mind. Legend after legend. Era after era.
“What I’m most proud of? I’ve evolved. I’m so much more than just a fighter.
“I’m a man growing stronger in my faith, a family man, a loyal brother to my team, a businessman, a leader, a man for my community.
“And I know – without a doubt – my mother would be proud of the man I’ve become.
I’m living my absolute best life.”
Jon Jones on claims he’s ‘ducking’ Tom Aspinall
“The wall’s almost filled… but trust me, the story’s still being written. The best is yet to come.”
Jones’ insistence that retirement is not on the cards any time soon came just days after UFC supremo Dana White insisted his proposed fight with Aspinall will come to fruition.
Reacting to since-retracted claims the fight has been ‘agreed’, White said late last month: “Everything you hear is bulls**t until we say it.”
He added: “I’ve said it many times, that’s the fight we want to make this year, [I’m] still super confident [it happens].”
“I’ve said since Day One that this would be the biggest heavyweight fight in the history of the company and the history of the sport.
