Aspinall Takes Aim at Jones After Interim Title Victory
In the wake of his decisive knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich to secure the interim title, Tom Aspinall has not held back his thoughts on Jon Jones, the long-standing titan of the UFC heavyweight division. Aspinall's performance at UFC 304, which saw him dispatch Curtis Blaydes with a commanding display, has only fueled his confidence and outspokenness.
Originally, fans were eager for the epic showdown between Jon Jones and Stipe Miocic scheduled for UFC 295 on November 11, 2023. However, Jones' injury-induced withdrawal led to the bout being postponed, leaving a significant void in the calendar. With Miocic also pulled from the card following Jones' withdrawal, the anticipation simmered rather than dissipated, with rumors swirling that the fight might be rescheduled for UFC 309 on November 16.
Despite the hype surrounding the potential Jones vs. Miocic clash, Aspinall remains dismissive of both fighters' standing in today’s heavyweight division. "Let's be honest, and since I won that fight, he's gone completely quiet. He'll continue to go completely quiet about me until he retires. Because there's no way on Earth that he's going to fight me," Aspinall claimed. "Not a chance. I will retire Jon Jones without even fighting him."
Aspinall's critique extends to the perceived inactivity and diminishing competitive stature of Jones, who, at 37 years old, has expressed a desire to conclude his career on a high note. "I challenge anybody watching this interview to go and find the statement, quote, a video where Jon Jones is saying that he'll fight me after he's fought Stipe. It doesn't exist," Aspinall remarked, suggesting that Jones strategically avoids potential opponents who could threaten his legacy.
Indeed, Jones himself has acknowledged his readiness to step down while still on top, albeit with his own spin. "I'm 37 years old now, I've kicked everyone's ass. My job is to finish strong and make an amazing movie. Go join Tom Brady, Floyd Mayweather and all the other retired bad asses," Jones declared, hinting at a post-retirement landscape where he envisions himself among other sports legends.
The animosity from Aspinall is apparent, with his comments frequently bordering on disdain. "The guy's smart, and we know the guy's a bit overweight these days. The guy sat there with the Cheeto fingers or whatever, Doritos on his fingers with his iPhone in hand waiting for me to get knocked out [by Blaydes] so he could start tweeting about it," Aspinall quipped, making light of Jones' lifestyle.
Beyond the personal jabs, Aspinall maintains his stance that Jones and Miocic no longer represent the pinnacle of the heavyweight division. "They don't f***ing deserve to be fighting for the heavyweight title. Them guys are not the top of the heavyweight division right now. Dana White and everybody else can say whatever they want, them guys aren't the best heavyweights in the world right now," he stated bluntly, leaving no room for ambiguity in his assessment.
According to Aspinall, the real measure of heavyweight dominance lies with him. "I'm the guy at heavyweight, not him -- me. I want to be recognized as the best. I've got the real belt. I'm the one defending. He's defending against a 42-year-old Stipe Miocic with a million miles on the clock. If you want to be the real guy, you have to fight me," Aspinall asserted, underscoring his belief that he represents the future and the present of the division.
As UFC fans eagerly await the rescheduling of the Jones vs. Miocic bout, the sport is witnessing a generational shift in its heavyweight echelon. Whether Jones will engage with Aspinall remains to be seen, but the stage is set for an intriguing chapter in UFC history, where rising stars like Aspinall strive to cement their legacy against the benchmarks of the past.