UFC: Dana White says Jon Jones ‘agreed’ to fight Tom Aspinall, responds to Francis Ngannou return speculation

UFC president Dana White says he cannot stop Jon Jones from retiring, despite the American having “agreed” to fight Tom Aspinall.

White was responding to the social media activity of the UFC heavyweight champion, who suggested he was retired before calling out ex-UFC fighter Francis Ngannou.

Speaking at the UFC 316 post-fight news conference, White said 37-year-old Jones had said nothing about retiring to him and that he was only interested in matching him with Aspinall.

“Tom Aspinall is the guy. If the guy wants to retire and doesn’t want to fight, there’s nothing you can do,” White said.

“I didn’t want Khabib [Nurmagomedov] to retire, I thought [Daniel Cormier] should’ve stayed in it longer, so it’s none of my business.

“I’ll do what I can to make the fight, if we can, if he’s talking that crazy, I didn’t realise that.”

With Ngannou fuelling speculation he might be open to a return to the UFC, White played down the chances even if it was to fight Jones.

“It’s Aspinall’s fight,” White said.