UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones says that his career will not be defined by whether or not he fights interim champion Tom Aspinall.

Britain’s Aspinall has been vocally campaigning for an undisputed title showdown with Jones since he won the interim championship last November; reiterating his claim as being the rightful challenger after defeating top contender Curtis Blaydes in Manchester earlier this summer.

However, Jones — and indeed the UFC — have maintained course for a title defence against Stipe Miocic after their previously scheduled fight was delayed last year after Jones sustained a pectoral injury in preparation, something which has been a point of contention with Aspinall.

But writing on social media earlier on Friday amid a brewing war of words with Aspinall, Jones appeared to suggest that he will leave fans baying for the fight with “blue balls.”

Maybe I’ll leave you with blue balls, but my legacy will be just fine. I’ve done way too much work in this game. There’s people around the world that’s been watching me fight since they can remember. He would have to go on and win like 10 championships at least in order for that… https://t.co/Ily2ikXgrM

— BONY (@JonnyBones) August 30, 2024

“Maybe I’ll leave you with blue balls, but my legacy will be just fine,” Jones wrote on Twitter, in response to a fan question.

“I’ve done way too much work in this game. There’s people around the world that’s been watching me fight since they can remember. He would have to go on and win like 10 championships at least in order for that to happen. The work I put in, that body of work ain’t getting touched no time soon.”

Jones’ fight with Miocic is being promoted by the UFC as a contest between the greatest champions in the UFC’s light heavyweight and heavyweight history, though many have claimed that both fighters’ recent inactivity (Miocic has not won in the cage since the summer of 2020, and Jones’ entire heavyweight career spans a little over two minutes of cage-time).