Damon Jackson Criticizes Aspinall’s Title Push
Before UFC 309, Damon Jackson criticized interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall’s public push for a fight with Jon Jones. Jackson gave his opinion in an interview with Parry Punch while preparing to face Jim Miller on the card. His claim that “nobody likes” Aspinall was a personal assessment, not a measure of fan opinion.
What Jackson said
Jackson called Aspinall a great fighter but said he was “whining” about Jones. He argued that Jones and Stipe Miocic had been booked to fight before Aspinall won the interim title, and that the matchup was delayed after Jones was injured. Those remarks reflected Jackson’s view of the dispute; they do not establish that Aspinall was broadly unpopular.
What happened at UFC 309
UFC 309 took place at Madison Square Garden in New York on Nov. 16, 2024. Jones stopped Miocic in the third round to retain the heavyweight championship. Aspinall, the interim champion, was not part of that title fight. On the prelims, Miller submitted Jackson with a guillotine choke at 2:44 of the first round.
The results settled the night’s bouts, but not the broader question of when Jones and Aspinall might meet. Jackson’s comments are best understood as one fighter’s criticism during the buildup, rather than evidence about the views of UFC fans as a whole.
Sources: MMA Mania’s report on Jackson’s interview; UFC 309 official results; BJ Penn’s report.
