Jon Jones teases his return in November, fires back at Tom Aspinall and his UFC 304 co-main event

Jon Jones wasted no time firing back at Tom Aspinall over his claims that the reigning UFC heavyweight champion was holding up the division.

On Thursday, UFC CEO Dana White announced Aspinall would face Curtis Blaydes in the co-main event at UFC 304 on July 27 with the interim heavyweight title going up for grabs. Afterwards, Aspinall posted a reaction video where he took a shot at Jones, who has been out ever since he suffered a torn pectoral muscle that prevented him from facing Stipe Miocic this past November.

“Usually, when the champ is coming back, the interim [champion] would obviously fight the champ,” Aspinall said. “Jon Jones is holding shit up, let’s be honest. He’s playing games.”

Jones responded with a message of his own on Twitter with a reminder that Aspinall is defending his belt in a co-headlining slot underneath Leon Edwards vs. Belal Muhammad in a welterweight title fight at the top of the bill in Manchester, England. Of course, an undisputed title always trumps an interim belt, which is the same reason Aspinall fought in the co-main event against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295 as well.

“Trolls telling me I’m slowing down the division by getting injured,” Jones wrote. “Meanwhile, the next two heavyweights aren’t even a main event? interesting. I’m on the right path, I got until November to remind the world. Again.”

In a now deleted tweet, Jones initially proclaimed he was returning Nov. 9 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, which is a yearly landing spot for the UFC.

There’s no official word if Jones vs. Miocic is expected to headline the UFC’s return to New York in November. It’s clear that’s the target on Jones’ mind.

As far as Aspinall and Blaydes go, Jones basically told them to fight for the chance to face the real champion after he’s done with Miocic later this year.

“Curtis versus Tom for the official No. 1 contender spot!” Jones said.