Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) was in attendance for Jones’ spinning back kick finish of Stipe Miocic in Saturday’s main event at Madison Square Garden in New York. He weighed in as a backup for the fight, but his services were not needed.

Afterward, Jones revealed that he does not plan to retire and called to speak with UFC executives Dana White and Hunter Campbell. "If everything goes right," Jones said, "maybe we'll give you guys what you want to see," seemingly referring to a potential unification bout with interim champ Tom Aspinall.

UFC 309 featured the first champ in over a decade to defend their throne with one flashy strike, an ageless wonder still performing miracles in the cage and a pair of consciousness-depriving clubbing knockouts.