Tom Aspinall's blitz through the heavyweight division as its interim titleholder will be looming over world champ Jon Jones' eventual fight with Stipe Miocic.
While recently talking with veteran journalist Kevin Iole, Dana White understands that.
"At the end of the day, I get it," the UFC CEO said. "Everybody wants to see Tom Aspinall but let me tell you what — after Stipe and Jon fight, whoever wins, the Aspinall fight is even bigger."
Though White said that "Stipe is 100 percent going to retire after this fight," whether he wins or loses, if Jones is victorious, White fully expects him to test his skills against Aspinall, who counts all eight of his UFC victories by stoppage — seven of which have come in the first round.
"Jon Jones always loves to challenge himself," White continued. "Moved up to heavyweight, [etc.]. I don't know what Jon Jones will do after this fight but I would be shocked if he didn't want to test himself against Aspinall."
He added: "What I'm saying about Jon Jones is undebatable. It's undebatable what this guy has accomplished in his career. If he beats Stipe and comes out and fights Tom Aspinall and beats him, it's already undeniable.
"Don't care how much you dislike Jon Jones for what he's done [outside the Octagon]. This isn't about personally who is Jon Jones and do you like him? We're talking about the baddest dude to ever walk the face of the earth in combat sports already.
"If he goes out and beats Tom Aspinall, he cements his legacy as the greatest fighter of all time."
Live on DAZN: Serhii Bohachuk vs. Vergil Ortiz Jr. on August 10. Click here for details .