Jon Jones aims to break UFC title reign record

Jon Jones, the current UFC heavyweight champion, could break a significant record held by Cain Velasquez. If Jones postpones his fight with Tom Aspinall, he may set a new record for the longest title reign in UFC heavyweight history. Jones is said to be asking for at least six months to prepare for the highly-anticipated fight with Aspinall. While he has not publicly expressed interest in facing the British fighter, many in the MMA community have implored him to move forward and unify the heavyweight division. Dana White, the CEO of UFC, has repeatedly assured fans that the fight will occur. He has even made a strong guarantee that Jones and Aspinall will eventually meet in the ring. As of March 24, 2025, Jones has been the champion for 750 days since he won the title by defeating Ciryl Gane in March 2023. He has only defended his title once during this period, stopping Stipe Miocic in November with a spectacular spinning kick. Cain Velasquez currently holds the record for the longest reign as UFC heavyweight champion, at 896 days. If Jones delays his fight until the week of August 18, 2025, he could break that record. Reports suggest that the fight between Jones and Aspinall might happen in September, making it likely he will achieve this milestone. Aspinall has already been in talks with UFC officials regarding the fight. Recently, he became a topic of discussion at UFC London for playfully holding a duck toy, which he used to suggest that Jones is avoiding a fight with him. Michael Bisping, a prominent UFC figure, expressed frustration over the situation, urging Jones to either schedule the fight soon or consider retiring. He highlighted Aspinall's potential and the urgency for him to compete at this stage in his career. Jones holds many records, including the most title fight wins in UFC history with 16. He is also the youngest fighter to win a UFC championship, achieving this at just 24 years old.