Jon Jones has taken a cheeky swipe at Tom Aspinall on social media following the heavyweight's no-contest against Cyril Gane at UFC 321. The interim champion's main event bout was waved off after a double eye-poke left him unable to continue.
Jones, who has been accused of 'ducking' Aspinall, changed his Instagram profile picture to a duck wearing an eye-patch, seemingly referencing the incident. The American had previously faced online abuse over the perceived avoidance, even altering his profile to a duck earlier.
Aspinall, taken to hospital after the fight, expressed his frustration: "I've just got f***ing knuckle deep in the eye ball. What the f**k? Why are you booing? I didn't do the f***ing poke. I can't see." He added: "F***ing double poke. Both eyeballs."
UFC president Dana White confirmed Aspinall did not want to continue, stating: "It's unfortunate it ended the way it did and I think there will be a lot more interest in the rematch." White noted that Gane had Aspinall bloodied up before the eye poke.
The no-contest leaves Aspinall's title aspirations in limbo, with a potential rematch against Gane now likely. Jones, meanwhile, continues to stoke the rivalry from the sidelines.
