Former UFC champion Francis Ngannou responds to question about Jon Jones 'ducking' Tom Aspinall

Former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou has had his say on suggestions that Jon Jones may be 'ducking' Tom Aspinall .

Jones has been the heavyweight champion since March last year when he defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 285.

He was scheduled to defend his title against Stipe Miocic in November 2023. However, Jones was forced to pull out due to injury after tearing a pectoral tendon.

That fight will now take place this November at UFC 309.

But many fans also want to see Jones take on Aspinall, after the fighters became embroiled in a war of words in social media in recent months.

There have been some suggestions that Jones is keen to avoid Aspinall and this was put to Ngannou earlier this week.

The Cameroonian replied: 'I don't know if Jon Jones is ducking Tom Aspinall.

'I think Jon Jones would be the best to answer that question.

'But I think Jon Jones does whatever he wants and fights who he wants. I think he is in the position to claim that.'

Ngannou competed in the UFC between 2015 and 2022, when he left the organisation directly after beating Ciryl Gane at UFC 270 to retain his heavyweight title - which he was eventually stripped of 12 months later.

American Jones, 37, currently boasts a 27-1-0 (1 NC) record in his UFC career.

Englishman Aspinall, 31 from Salford, has won 15 of his 18 fights to date, losing three.