Jon Jones recently signed up for a new assignment in which he’s set to face noted UFC star Nate Diaz. According to reports, Jones will travel to Russia to appear in a fighting-based reality show called “ALF Reality.” Modeled after the UFC’s “The Ultimate Fighter,” the series will feature Jones and Diaz as rival coaches in its second season.
The announcement caught the UFC community off guard. Fans have been waiting for Jones’ next fight ever since he pulled out of UFC 295 due to injury. Many weren’t impressed when news broke that his next big move would involve a reality show — especially one outside the UFC’s own orbit.
Fans Count Jon Jones’ Venture as a Way To Avoid Tom Aspinall
The reigning interim heavyweight champ, Tom Aspinall, has been pushing hard for a title unification bout with Jones ever since winning gold at UFC 295. But Jones has shown little public interest. He’s been critical of Aspinall’s résumé, claiming it lacks quality opponents. Instead, Jones floated Alex Pereira as a more worthy challenger, citing the Brazilian’s two-division championship status.
That argument lost steam when Pereira dropped his light heavyweight belt to Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 313. With Pereira out of the title picture, Aspinall became the obvious — and only — credible option for Jones’ next fight. Still, more than two months later, there’s been no official announcement.
Now, fans are growing restless. A tweet from @mma_orbit revealed that Jones will be coaching opposite Diaz on “ALF Reality,” stirring backlash from fans who believe he’s ducking Aspinall.
🚨| Jon Jones will coach against Nate Diaz in the next season of the Russian TUF. 👀🔥 pic.twitter.com/3OvzVYZ6uw
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) May 9, 2025
Comments piled up fast. One fan wrote, “Anything besides Aspinall.”
Anything besides Aspinall
— ElRanchoCubano (@ElRanchoCubano) May 9, 2025
Another wrote, “Can he fight @AspinallMMA instead please? Because Tom is long overdue a shot at getting the full belt.”
Can he fight @AspinallMMA instead please. Because Tom is long overdue a shot at getting the full belt. 🤌🏼
— Rob (@JuceeRob) May 9, 2025
A third posted, “Bratha where Aspinall?” Others chimed in with lines like: “Jon Jones doing anything but defending the belt” and “Strip his title man. Ridiculous now.”
Aspinall himself has been vocal. In several videos over the past few months, he claimed the UFC had agreed to book the Jones fight, and that the only thing left was Jones giving the green light. But in one clip, he said the UFC had “sworn [him] to secrecy” regarding future updates — adding even more mystery to the situation.
At this point, it’s clear fans want answers. But with Jones headed to Russia and Aspinall stuck waiting, the heavyweight title picture remains in limbo.