When I first heard this, I totally thought this was joke, and then I realized it was real.
With the clock ticking on his long absence from the Octagon, a growing movement among fans and critics alike is attempting to push the former pound-for-pound king into action. So what’s their bold plan?
A digital exodus: mass-unfollowing him on Instagram.
What are we in junior high or something?
Jones, who has not defended his heavyweight crown since November, remains a ghost champion. While interim titleholder Tom Aspinall waits in the wings, Jones appears unhurried—if not wholly uninterested—in resuming his reign. With only two fights at heavyweight since his move up in 2023 and cryptic suggestions that his combat career might already be in its twilight, Jones has provided few clues about his future.
But fans are no longer content to wait. A petition demanding the UFC strip Jones of his title has racked up over 115,000 signatures. Now, a coordinated campaign to unfollow Jones on Instagram aims to cut deeper—right into his pocketbook. In the age of influencer deals and digital visibility, some believe diminishing Jones’ follower count could reduce his marketability and pressure the UFC to act.
Yet not everyone’s buying it (including yours truly). Critics of the movement have ridiculed the plan as performative and ineffective (I’d prefer to call it juvenile and stupid). Look, I for one thinks Jones either needs to fight or vacate the belt but seriously…unfollow him on Instagram. Are you kidding?
You are out of your mind if you think that unfollowing him is going to hurt his sponsorships. He’s not an internet influencer, he’s one of the greatest MMA athletes ever and oh by the way stunts like this social media campaign keep him in the news, allowing him to troll people and be even more popular.
But Jones himself seems unfazed—if not a little amused. From across the world in Thailand, he turned attention to a new source of support: fans from the UK. After hosting what he called “the biggest seminar in Phuket history,” Jones credited Aspinall, his vocal rival, for inadvertently promoting him. “Half the crowd flew in from the UK,” he wrote. “Massive shoutout to my guy Tom for all the free promo.”
In true Jones fashion, the message was equal parts sarcasm and swagger.
Just wrapped up the biggest seminar in Phuket history 🙌🏾🔥
Half the crowd flew in from the UK—how wild is that?! 🇬🇧💥
Massive shoutout to my guy Tom for all the free promo… couldn’t have done it without you 😎Seriously though, I’m beyond grateful for this brand new UK…
— Jonny Meat (@JonnyBones) May 31, 2025
