Jon Jones Responds to Ducking Accusations: 'I’m Living My Absolute Best Life'

Jon Jones doesn’t appear to be too concerned with public perception.

During a recent session on Instagram Live, the UFC’s reigning heavyweight champion addressed accusations that he has been actively avoiding a fight against interim title holder Tom Aspinall. While UFC CEO Dana White has been confident that Jones vs. Aspinall will happen this year, there has been little tangible progress made — at least publicly — when it comes to negotiations for that fight.

In the meantime, Aspinall has grown exceedingly frustrated with the wait, as he has not competed since defending the interim crown with a stoppage of Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304. In a recent interview, the Englishman suggested that he would be ready to move on from Jones if the bout isn’t finalized soon.

Jones, however, doesn’t seem to be in a rush to get back in the Octagon.

“I’ve got people in the chat calling me a ‘duck,’” Jones said. “Meanwhile, I’m living my absolute best life. I don’t know if it’s considered ducking when you’re living good. I don’t think it works like that.”

After a lengthy reign as light heavyweight champion, “Bones” returned to capture the vacant heavyweight strap with a first-round submission of Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 in March 2023. An injury forced him out of a title defense against Stipe Moicic at UFC 295 that November. Even after Aspinall became interim champ, Jones held out for a legacy fight against Miocic, which he won via won via third-round TKO at UFC 309 this past November. After that triumph, Jones implied that it would take a significant amount of money to accept the fight against Aspinall.