The UFC’s heavyweight title picture is not in the best shape right now. The Interim champion and the undisputed champion exist without any plans for unification. In the eyes of Curtis Blaydes, Jon Jones does not have a championship status. Instead, it belonged to the interim champ, Tom Aspinall.
In a candid interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Curtis Blaydes utterly dismissed Jon Jones’ status as the heavyweight champion. He proclaimed Aspinall to be the real champion. Blaydes also criticized Jones’ physique following his move to the heavyweight division.
No Jon I am sorry, I don’t think you’ve actually fought a heavyweight yet. I am sorry I don’t. I view Aspinall as the guy with the real belt. The boy (Aspinall) looks good. There is nothing bad you can say about him in the octagon… I am going to be honest, he (Jones) does not look like a heavyweight… He looked a little top heavy. He doesn’t really have the legs of a heavyweight. I don’t view him as a heavyweight.
Curtis Blaydes via The MMA Hour
The former light heavyweight kingpin captured the vacant heavyweight strap last year by submitting Ciryl Gane. He was then set to fight at UFC 295 against Stipe Miocic. However, a pectoral injury forced him out of the bout. He will now potentially return this year to fight Miocic.
Curtis Blaydes is set to fight against Tom Aspinall for the interim title in the co-main event of UFC 304 in Manchester. However, no plans for title unification are underway. Rumors suggest Jon Jones potentially retiring after fighting Miocic. Only time will tell whether Jon Jones will agree to a unification bout down the line.
Curtis Blaydes confident in Jon Jones’ retirement post-Stipe Miocic fight
The heavyweight division was once the crown jewel of the UFC. The lightweight division has now taken up this status. This fall from grace is due to inactivity, lack of high-level fights, and more. Curtis Blaydes recently made a revelation about Jon Jones. He felt Jones may take his ball and go home after the next big move.Â
Curtis Blaydes believes that Jon Jones will retire (via MMA Mania/ DAZN)Blaydes predicted that Jones’ much-hyped fight against Stipe Miocic could very well serve as the legendary fighter’s retirement party.
I fully believe [Jones will retire]. He’ll have to prove us wrong. That’s what I believe… I have the perspective of other fighters, other coaches, other people in the MMA world, and I haven’t heard anyone who really believes that he isn’t going to retire.
Curtis Blaydes via MMA Fighting
Curtis Blaydes fully expects Jon Jones to retire after Stipe Miocic, considers Tom Aspinall a tougher fight https://t.co/O49pTbX5bh
— MMA Fighting (@MMAFighting) June 5, 2024
Baydes went on to say that Aspinall was the tougher opponent for him. While downplaying Jones’ threats may seem absurd on paper, Blaydes has a simple rationale. He believes that Aspinall is a true, full-fledged heavyweight compared to Jones’ newly-bulked frame. Moreover, the 6’5″ Brit supposedly hits way harder than the champion himself.
