Current developments in the UFC heavyweight division are generating a lot of buzz online. One of the most discussed topics is the potential fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall. Many prominent figures in the combat sports community are weighing in on this intriguing matchup. Recently, a former UFC champion shared insights about the possible fight between Jones and Aspinall.
Eddie Alvarez, who fought Conor McGregor at UFC 205 recently appeared on the Ariel Helwani Show. As a veteran of the sport who has witnessed both Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall rise to fame, Alvarez weighed in on a hot topic. Many people are confident that Aspinall would defeat Jones in a potential matchup. However, Alvarez offers an interesting perspective to counter their analysis.
When I see the Aspinall fight, I just see Jones taking him down and doing what he likes to do on the ground, the same way he did like Ciryl Gane… The allure of being Tom Aspinall being so great, the movement, the speed, the athleticism, all goes out the window when Jon rips him to the floor and submits him.
Eddie Alvarez via The Ariel Helwani Show
Jones recently transitioned to the UFC heavyweight division, where he has fought only two times so far. In his debut fight, ‘Bones’ defeated a competitor who had a similar level of hype to Aspinall. Jones claimed the UFC heavyweight championship in his debut fight by submitting Ciryl Gane in the first round. According to Eddie Alvarez, Aspinall faces the same fate suffered by Gane at UFC 285.
Eddie Alvarez praised Tom Aspinall’s striking and athleticism but said, “That all goes out the window when Jon Jones rips him to the ground and submits him.”
He doesn’t care about Aspinall’s BJJ black belt, adding, “You get punched, you go from black belt to purple belt, then… pic.twitter.com/GjaJpuytpB
— AFeldmanMMA (@afeldMMA) November 26, 2024
Despite the circumstances, Aspinall is quite confident in his athleticism and striking abilities against Jones. The Brit believes that he can defeat the heavyweight champion. Additionally, the British fighter has recently shared an intriguing reason why he could pose one of the toughest challenges for Jones.
However, despite Aspinall’s persistent comments, the heavyweight champion has openly refused to engage with him on multiple occasions. In light of this, a former UFC fighter recently shared an interesting theory regarding the situation.
Mike Perry smells something fishy behind Jon Jones’ constant refusal to fight Tom Aspinall
Jon Jones is considered one of the greatest fighters in UFC history. Throughout his impressive career, Jones has defeated many tough opponents and built a remarkable legacy within the promotion. Interestingly, he has stated that one reason for refusing to fight Tom Aspinall is that the British fighter would not significantly impact his legacy.
Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall together (Image via X)This stance has raised skepticism from former UFC fighter Mike Perry, who questions Jones’ reasoning. Like many other notable figures in combat sports, Perry also explored the intriguing possibility of this potential fight. Interestingly, the former UFC fighter suggested that the heavyweight champion is intentionally appearing indifferent to the matchup, thereby creating a sense of mystery around it.
Tom (Aspinall) is lower on the pound-for-pound rankings. (Alex) Pereira is higher… I feel like Jon’s doing something sneaky here where he’s like trying to make people want the Tom Aspinall fight more. He’s acting like he just doesn’t want it and then if they they sign him on the fight he’s like, ‘I got you.’
Mike Perry via Overdogs Podcast
Perry also believes that the heavyweight champion was intentionally avoiding a matchup with Aspinall to create additional demand for it. Interestingly, both Jones and Aspinall recently hinted that significant news is coming soon. They also provided a timeline for their upcoming fight schedules. It will be intriguing to see if the UFC makes this exciting matchup a reality.
