Anik 'hopeful' For Aspinall-jones Fight In December

UFC broadcaster Jon Anik says he "thinks" and is "hopeful" nan undisputed heavyweight title conflict betwixt Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall will return spot successful December.

Britain's Aspinall has been nan interim champion for 18 months but has been passed complete by Jones, who past fought successful November, defending his loop against Stipe Miocic.

Aspinall, 32, has many times called for a unification bout pinch Jones but nan American has been little forthcoming, teasing fans connected societal media and hinting astatine retirement.

Last week disappointment UFC fans set up a petition which has gained much than 150,000 signatures, calling for Jones' title to beryllium taken disconnected him.

Anik was asked astir nan imaginable of a unification bout while opinionated successful for nan promotion's president Dana White astatine Thursday's UFC 316 news conference.

"I deliberation a conflict betwixt Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall is bigger if they are some champions," said Anik.

"I think... I'm hopeful they're going to conflict successful December successful Las Vegas.

"I person nary wrong accusation but I don't cognize if Jon Jones really gives a rip if they portion him of nan heavyweight championship. He's still going to conflict Tom hopefully and it's going to beryllium a bang."

Earlier this period Aspinall said it has been "difficult mentally" waiting to conflict Jones.

Aspinall has not fought since defending his interim loop against Curtis Blaydes successful Manchester 11 months ago.

Jones is wide considered 1 of, if not nan best, MMA combatant of each clip and has an wide grounds of 28 wins, 1 nonaccomplishment and 1 no-contest.

UFC 316, meanwhile, takes spot connected Saturday astatine nan Prudential Centre successful Newark, New Jersey and is headlined by nan rematch for nan bantamweight title betwixt Georgia's Merab Dvalishvili and American Sean O'Malley.

The co-main arena sees American Julianna Pena take sides her bantamweight title against compatriot Kayla Harrison.

Elsewhere, erstwhile Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix makes his UFC debut against chap American Mario Bautista.

Mix near nan PFL, who acquired Bellator successful 2023, successful May aft venting his frustrations alongside different athletes astir a deficiency of fights successful nan organisation.

He follows erstwhile Bellator featherweight and lightweight champion Patricio Pitbull, who mislaid connected his debut to Mexico's Yair Rodriguez successful April, to nan UFC.