DANA WHITE isn't contemplating the possibility of Jon Jones headlining UFC 300.
The UFC's pound-for-pound king was due to defend his heavyweight title against former champion Stipe Miocic a fortnight on Saturday at Madison Square Garden.
But a torn left pectoral muscle for Jones laid waste to UFC 295's main event and is expected to keep the Hall of Famer on the sidelines for eight months.
A faster-than-expected recovery could pave the way for Jones vs Miocic to headline UFC 300 in April, although that thought couldn't be any further from White's mind right now.
The UFC's president and newly-minted CEO said: “I’m not thinking about anything until Jon has had his surgery.
"[He's] got to get through that and see how he recovers.
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“He wants to go and get this thing done this week to start rehabbing and working his way.”
Jones' loss has been the gain of Brit Tom Aspinall, who has been drafted in on just over two weeks' notice to fight Sergei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight title.
White said: “Jon called to say he hurt his shoulder training and wrestling.
"His team thought he’d need just a few days off and he’ll be fine, but he felt that something was really wrong.
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“He flew out here, did the MRI, found out what was wrong. He was super emotional about it, really upset.
“We did what we do, flipped it, and make another fight.”
The prospect of offering former two-time champion Miocic the interim title never crossed the minds of White or the rest of the UFC brass.
He added: “Stipe is not fighting for an interim title.
"You have the greatest heavyweight of all time against the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
“This is a legacy fight for both of these guys.
"To even call Stipe and ask him to fight for an interim title is complete disrespect.
“This is a fight for two legends, legacy, two of the greatest to ever do it, fans want to see it, I want to see it and they both want it.”
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