Jon Jones announces his next career move after knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 – while Dana White outlines plans for ‘biggest heavyweight fight of all time’ amid Tom Aspinall speculation

Jon Jones appeared to be addressing a potential fight with Tom Aspinall after knocking out Stipe Miocic at UFC 309.

Jones, the heavyweight champion, was a heavy favorite to beat Miocic and did so by knocking out his rival in round three to hold his crowd – a victory he celebrated with Donald Trump.

Fight week was dominated by talk about Jones’ future, with the champion suggesting he would retire before facing Aspinall, who claimed the interim title while Jones was injured.

Aspinall was in New York this week as a backup fighter and called up Jones for an uncontested fight, which Jones has thus far avoided encouraging.

He has asked questions and walked away from potential interviews, but ultimately spoke about the potential fight fans want to see in the future if the fight can be made.

After knocking out Miocic in typically impressive fashion, Jones took the microphone in the ring to discuss his future, and seemed to hint that he could fight Aspinall at some point.

“As for my future in the octagon,” Jones began. “I’ve decided that maybe I won’t retire.

“I’m having some conversations with Dana and Hunter, and we have some negotiating to do, and if all goes well, maybe we’ll give you what you want to see.”

The reveal was met with raucous cheers from the crowd, who had just watched Jones take out his rival in somewhat predictable fashion in the card’s main event.

Jones spectacularly retained his UFC heavyweight title and potential all-time greatest status with a TKO victory over Miocic at the Garden at the event.

Miocic put up a better fight than most expected in the Clash of Titans, ultimately clinching the card despite fans’ attention turning to a fight that has yet to (and may never) happen.

However, Jones landed a spinning back kick to Miocic’s ribcage at 4:29 of the third round, which was the beginning of the end for former champion Miocic.

The most decorated UFC heavyweight folded from the body shot when Jones jumped him near the fence. Referee Herb Dean then stepped in to separate the two and declared Jones the winner and defending champion.

The result sparked celebrations in the octagon and in the crowd, with President Trump in the front row celebrating with Jones before the fighter went to the cage and presented Trump with his title.

In what was expected to be a week of celebrating Jones’ career, all the attention was on Aspinall – a man who didn’t even fight at the event but was there because he was the backup fighter.

Jones has consistently drafted other men, Aspinall didn’t think. He had called to fight Alex Pereira, threatening to retire if the fight didn’t happen, saying he has no interest in taking on the Brit.

“There’s a part of me that does (want to compete with him), but if I’m completely honest, I feel like Tom has been such a jerk that I don’t want to do business with him,” Jones said in the build-up to Saturday night’s fight. ‘His fans are so annoying.

“Obviously you can’t get that far if you’re influenced by fans and stuff, but he’s just an asshole. He’s 30, so he belongs to the generation of influencers where you surf online, sell t-shirts and such. I’m past that kind of thing. If you had been a little more respectful, maybe we could have worked something out.

“This is a case, and by fighting me he will have the opportunity to change his life forever. I don’t even want to give him a chance, he just played his cards wrong against me.

‘It will take another three years before I am a 40-year-old adult man. I’d rather not do the press conference, going through the whole thing with him.’

However, UFC CEO Dana White has said that Jones will fight Aspinall next if he wants to fight in the UFC again.

And it now appears the fight could move a step closer, with Jones not directly addressing his rival but appearing to suggest the fight could happen to the fans.

White said after the fight, “It’s going to be (the greatest heavyweight fight of all time).

”He will be (well compensated). You know what tonight told me? There is no way I would let (Alex) Pereira fight. Jon is too big. Great wrestler.

“I like Alex Pereira, I like him personally, but there’s just no point in getting into that fight.”

However, Jones said: “One of the really good things about negotiating is the willingness to walk away from a deal, and that’s the deal I want. If that’s not what the fans want, I think I’ll say Sayonara.

He added, “I’ve learned over the years not to really get involved in finances publicly, but I want to be compensated for the issue where it doesn’t really matter if I win or lose.”