Steveson On Jones Title Run After Aspinall Vacates

Gable Steveson says he would never fight Jon Jones for the UFC heavyweight title, even if the 39-year-old veteran makes a run at the vacant strap following Tom Aspinall's recent departure from the division.

Steveson, who faces Sean Sharaf at UFC 331 on Friday in Los Angeles, told MMA Junkie that he would welcome Jones reclaiming the belt but acknowledged the potential conflict. "It's really going to be up to him," Steveson said. "If me and him ever came into the spot where me and him would have to compete against each other, that would never happen because we already have the say-so not to do. That's my friend, my coach, my partner."

That position contradicts Dana White's longstanding policy against fighters refusing matchups based on personal relationships. The UFC CEO has hammered this point for nearly two decades, most recently in 2023 when Merab Dvalishvili balked at facing Aljamain Sterling. "This is not about friendship," White said at the time, per MMA Junkie. "This is about finding out who the best in the world is, and if you don't want to find out who the best in the world is, this is not the place for you."

Steveson, who remains unbeaten at 4-0, says he expects to fight for the heavyweight title next year. The timeline assumes Jones, who has signaled interest in returning since Aspinall vacated the belt to focus on health issues, either sits out or concludes his career before Steveson climbs the rankings.

The 26-year-old Olympic gold medalist first has to get past Sharaf on Friday night. Ciryl Gane, who could rematch Alex Pereira for the undisputed heavyweight strap later this year, looms as another variable in the division's reshuffling.