Tom Aspinall and Jon Jones‘s potential matchup is the biggest thing in the heavyweight division right now. Jones had repeatedly iterated that he was not interested in fighting Tom Aspinall. However, many believe the heavyweight champion is avoiding one of the biggest challenges of his career. Aspinall shared his thoughts on this in a recent interview after a victorious night back in Manchester.
Tom Aspinall recently sat down for a conversation with MMA Fighting. During their discussion, Aspinall talked about Jones’s upcoming fight with Stipe Miocic and why he picked the former heavyweight champion over a showdown with him.
Of course, Jon Jones is not an idiot. Even though he might act like it sometimes, he’s not unintelligent. Stipe, one of the best heavyweights if not the best heavyweight of all-time. Stipe’s also 43 years old, coming off a three-year layoff, and his last fight was a knockout loss.
Tom Aspinall on MMA Fighting
Aspinall reasoned that Jones would want to take that fight before facing him in the octagon. That was because ‘Honey Badger’ believes Miocic is a “way, way, way easier” matchup than him. Stipe Miocic is one of the biggest names in UFC heavyweight history.
He is often regarded as the greatest heavyweight of all time. In his prime, the former champion set the record for most consecutive successful UFC title defenses in the 265 lbs weight class. However, he has not fought in three years. The last time Miocic stepped into the octagon, he got knocked out by Francis Ngannou back in 2021.
Tom Aspinall is not sure if a fight with Jon Jones will even happen
Jon Jones became heavyweight champion in 2023. Later that same year, Aspinall put out Serghei Pavlovich to become the UFC interim heavyweight champion. By that time, Jones should have fought Stipe Miocic and Aspinall would have fought the winner.
However, a pectoral injury during training put out the heavyweight champion for a while and the fight with Miocic was postponed. Aspinall has been waiting ever since, having even demanded that Jones be stripped of his title. Would this fight even happen after Jones fights Miocic? The Brit has no idea.
Like I said, Jon Jones is a bit of an unusual guy. You don’t get what you see. He’s tricky, slimy, snaky, he’s does different movements. He says one thing, does another. So I don’t know. I have no idea, to be honest.
Tom Aspinall on MMA Fighting
Jones had revealed that he would take on Miocic this November at UFC 309. However, there has been no official confirmation regarding that up till now. Moreover, there have been rumors that 37-year-old Jones would retire after fighting Miocic. Others say that he would take on light-heavyweight champion Alex Pereira. It is definitely an interesting time in the UFC’s heavyweight division.
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