UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones isn’t too concerned by Tom Aspinall’s relentless pursuit of a world title bout.

Aspinall, the interim heavyweight champion since November 2023, has doggedly chased a title bout with Jones since he defeated Sergei Pavlovich by first-round knockout inside Madison Square Garden – later defending the interim title against Curtis Blaydes, winning again inside the opening frame.

But despite UFC boss Dana White saying he was “100% confident” that the fight will take place this year, referring to the potential clash as being the biggest heavyweight title fight in UFC history, Aspinall has suggested this week that he may move on from Jones and pursue other options.

“I’ve had enough. We either need to fight, or I need to move on to something else,” Aspinall said during a media engagement this week.

Jones, who has stated repeatedly that he sees other options for so-called ‘legacy fights’ as being more attractive than accepting the Englishman’s challenge, and has said that he is perfectly at ease with his status as UFC heavyweight champion seven months after his last fight, and with no fight booking on the immediate horizon.

“I’ve got people in the chat calling me a ‘duck,’” Jones said, addressing fans on Instagram Live.

“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.”

The 37-year-old Jones, who still holds the record for the youngest champion in UFC history when he dethroned former 205-pound champion Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua back in March 2011, has fought just twice since February 2020.

He last competed this past November where he defeated former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic by third round TKO.