Combat sports journalist Ariel Helwani has officially drawn a line in the sand—and it spells pressure for the UFC, Jon Jones, and Tom Aspinall. In a fiery segment on The MMA Hour, Helwani laid down what he called a “final deadline” for booking the long-awaited heavyweight super fight: UFC International Fight Week, July 2025.

“Enough delays. If we don’t get Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall by International Fight Week, then don’t talk to me about legacy or ‘undisputed’ anything,” Helwani declared. “The fans deserve this fight. The sport needs it. Time’s up.”

The Heavyweight Fight Everyone Wants

Since Tom Aspinall captured the interim UFC Heavyweight Title with a stunning knockout win over Sergei Pavlovich, fans have been clamoring for a unification bout with undisputed champ Jon Jones. But instead, the fight world has been stuck in limbo.

Jones, who suffered a pectoral injury ahead of UFC 295, is expected to return later in 2024—but he has consistently said he’s only interested in facing Stipe Miocic, not the rising British powerhouse.

“I have nothing to prove against Aspinall,” Jones said in a previous interview. “Stipe is the GOAT. That’s the legacy fight.”

Helwani’s Counter: “That’s Not How This Works”

Helwani didn’t mince words:

“With all due respect, you don’t get to hold the belt hostage. The division moves on. Aspinall has earned his shot. And if the UFC wants to put on the biggest fight possible, this is it. July is the moment. Book it—or lose the momentum forever.”

Helwani argued that UFC International Fight Week—the biggest annual celebration of the sport—would be the perfect stage for one of the most important heavyweight clashes in recent memory.

The Clock Is Ticking

With Aspinall healthy and active, and Jones recovering but not retired, the stars are aligning. But as Helwani emphasized, this is not just about matchmaking—it’s about accountability, fairness, and clarity in a murky division.

Fans have voiced their frustration too:

“If Jon won’t fight Aspinall, strip the belt.”

“We want undisputed, not politics.”

“This is the real main event. Book it before it’s too late.”

Will the UFC Respond?

UFC President Dana White has remained vague on the matter, praising both fighters but stopping short of confirming any matchup. The promotion’s current priority still appears to be Jones vs. Miocic, potentially as a legacy fight in Madison Square Garden or Las Vegas later this year.

But if that bout falls through—or Jones refuses to face Aspinall post-Stipe—the pressure may become impossible to ignore.

Final Word: Helwani Sets the Stage

“July. International Fight Week. Las Vegas. Jones vs. Aspinall. This is the moment. If it doesn’t happen then—maybe it never will,” Helwani warned.

With the MMA world watching and the clock ticking, the UFC is at a crossroads. One way leads to resolution and greatness. The other? More delays, more questions, and a heavyweight division held hostage by uncertainty.

“DEADLINE,” Helwani said—and this time, he means it.