Tom Aspinall: Stipe Miocic Declined UFC 300 Fight, Only Wants Jon Jones Bout

Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall stated that he accepted an offer from UFC to fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 300 on April 13. However, Aspinall claims Miocic is only interested in fighting current heavyweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones when he returns from a torn pectoral tendon.

Jones was scheduled to defend the title agains Miocic at UFC 295 on Nov. 11, but the injury, which occurred during training, prevented that bout from occurring.

UFC President Dana White told fans on Oct. 25 that Jones was expected out eight months.

An interim heavyweight title between Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich was scheduled in the Miocic-Jones bout's place. Aspinall won via first-round knockout after just 1:09.

It's a disappointing result for Aspinall, who could have started working his way toward being the world's top heavyweight. In theory, a win over Miocic at UFC 300 would have certainly set up a title unification bout against Jones.

Alas, that isn't happening, and now the world waits for Jones to rehab and get back into the Octagon for a presumed matchup with Miocic someday.

The comments in question notably featured Aspinall saying Jones was deflecting a chance to fight him and that his actions were akin to that of a politician.

It appears that spat is squashed for now, though.