Tom Aspinall: Jon Jones Fight Is 'Going to Happen' Despite Comments from UFC Star

Though Jon Jones made it clear he'll need a hefty paycheck for a fight, Tom Aspinall is confident he'll get to square off against the UFC heavyweight champion.

On an appearance on the Ariel Helwani Show, Aspinall said that Jones "is being a sassy little flirt" and that "the fight is going to happen." He said that his recent conversation with Dana White was "very positive."

"What I can say is it went very positive," Aspinall said. "We've got a lot of negotiation to do obviously, that's the way that the world works, especially at this level. But I'm very optimistic. I'm very optimistic."

Jones, who successfully defended the heavyweight title against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 on Saturday, said after the fight that he would need "f--k you money" to fight Aspinall and didn't hold back about how he feels about the fighter.

"He's annoying to me. He's annoying to me and that's my own personal—he annoys me," Jones said. "I get it you guys find it entertaining, but I find him annoying. I just don't like him and at the end of the day, if I give him the opportunity to fight me, I want to be so compensated-I want to say it, I want that 'f--k you' money, honestly. That's just what it is. Or else my life is perfect without him. I don't need him at all and he needs me and that's a good place to be in a negotiation."

In the same press conference, Jones said he's more interested in fighting Alex Pereira.

"I'm not really worried about the Tom fight. I'm worried about the Pereira fight," he said. "That's what I want to do. I think if the UFC wants to have me back, then I think that's the fight they'll make. I've been really clear about my intentions. That's what I want. I just feel like anybody would understand at this point. I'll retire the heavyweight belt if I have to. … Tom can have the heavyweight championship. I don't really care about it."

Jones might not get his wish of a fight against Pereira, though, as White said there's "no f--king way" he will have Jones and Pereira fight because Jones is physically "too big."

Aspinall called out Jones for being so adamant about not fighting him, saying that Jones "hates the fact" that fans think he would lose to Aspinall.

"I think he secretly wants it," Aspinall said. "He hates the fact that people are saying I can beat him. He can't sleep at night... This is all projecting. Deep down he knows."

A fight between Jones and Aspinall has been the talk of UFC fans for a while now, and Jones' win on Saturday only adds to the hype. Whether Jones will agree to a fight is to be determined, but for now, he remains set on not getting in the ring against Aspinall.