Fans Petition Stripping Jon Jones Amid UFC Title Controversy

Dustin Poirier is set to retire after headlining UFC 318 against Max Holloway in a trilogy bout for the BMF title, with the event taking place in Poirier's hometown of New Orleans. Despite the main event's star power and significance, fans have expressed widespread disappointment with the overall UFC 318 fight card, criticizing the lack of ranked fighters, championship bouts, and compelling matchups beyond the headliners. The co-main event features Marvin Vettori versus Brendan Allen, both coming off losing streaks, while other notable fights include Ikram Aliskerov vs. Brunno Ferreira and Michael Johnson facing rising prospect Daniel Zellhuber. This dissatisfaction is heightened by comparisons to the more stacked UFC 317 card, which boasts numerous elite fighters and fan favorites. Meanwhile, another UFC saga unfolds as Interim Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall demands a title unification fight with Jon Jones, who has fought only three times this decade, prompting fan petitions calling for Jones to be stripped of his championship. The UFC faces challenges balancing fan expectations for marquee fights with the realities of fighter availability and event scheduling.