### Jon Jones Relishing His Hold on Power Amid Tom Aspinall Fight Speculations

In the midst of ongoing frustration from fans, UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones seems to be relishing his time away from the Octagon. Meanwhile, interim champion Tom Aspinall is moving forward with his career, choosing not to languish in the uncertainty of a potential bout with Jones. A growing faction of fans has suggested Jones should be stripped of his title, with Aspinall even suggesting that Jones has effectively retired. However, former UFC champion Michael Bisping remains optimistic that the fight will eventually materialize, despite Jones showing little indication of imminent return.

UFC legend Chael Sonnen, who once faced Jones himself, believes that the champion is navigating uncharted territory and enjoying the power dynamics at play. Sonnen argues that Jones is making the most of his unprecedented leverage in negotiating a highly anticipated fight with Aspinall. According to Sonnen, this is new for Jones, who has an opportunity to wield significant influence over the UFC's promotional efforts.

"If you give any human being power, it's going to be very rare that they don't wield it," Sonnen stated in an exclusive interview with Bloody Elbow. Sonnen pointed out that, despite Jones' numerous achievements, the fighter has never been a massive commercial draw for the UFC. "Jon comes in, he takes a big paycheck because they respect his work, but he's never sold out an event. You could always get tickets on the day of the fight. He’s got no merchandise or PPV records," said Sonnen, emphasizing that Jones is now in a position to change that dynamic.

Sonnen believes that the current scenario places Jones in an uncharacteristic role of control. The UFC and Aspinall stand to gain significantly from a possible matchup, and Sonnen thinks Jones is fully aware of this power shift and is savoring it. "For the first time ever, there was an opponent people want to see Jon face, and he might even be the betting favorite. There's a younger, heavier guy with an interim belt, and people can't get this fight without Jon," Sonnen explained.

Despite the prolonged saga, Sonnen is confident that Jones will ultimately step into the ring when the conditions are right. Contrary to fan speculation that Jones might be avoiding the fight by making exorbitant financial demands, Sonnen defends the champion. "I don't think Jon is delaying the fight to avoid it. He's enjoying this moment but he will return to the Octagon to unify the titles when the time comes," concluded Sonnen.

In Sonnen's view, Jones is simply waiting for the opportune moment to re-enter the Octagon and solidify his legacy. For now, Jones continues to enjoy the strategic position he holds, a scenario new to his storied career.