Tensions are mounting in the UFC's heavyweight division as Tom Aspinall continues to assert his dominance. Fresh off a decisive knockout victory over Sergei Pavlovich, which saw him claim the interim title, Aspinall has not hesitated to voice his views on the current state of the division—and his criticisms are pointed directly at Jon Jones.
Aspinall's Confidence and Criticism
The British heavyweight's recent performance has been nothing short of commanding. At UFC 304, he delivered a standout performance against Curtis Blaydes, further solidifying his status as a top contender. Yet, Aspinall's focus seems to be on Jon Jones, whom he accuses of avoiding a potential matchup. "Let's be honest, and since I won that fight, he's gone completely quiet," Aspinall remarked. "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. Not a chance. I will retire Jon Jones without even fighting him."
Jon Jones' Future and Legacy
Jones, who is 37 years old, has made no secret of his desire to finish his career on a high note. Originally scheduled to face Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 on November 11, 2023, the bout was postponed following Jones' injury-related withdrawal. Subsequently, Miocic was also pulled from the card. Amidst rumors that the bout might be rescheduled for UFC 309 on November 16, Jones seems focused on his legacy. "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 stated.
The Heavyweight Debate
Aspinall, however, remains skeptical of Jones' ranking in today's heavyweight division. He boldly declared, "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." Aspinall's contention is that he, not Jones, should be recognized as the premier heavyweight fighter. "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."
The Silent Response
Despite Aspinall's vocal challenges, he claims Jones has remained notably silent. "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 asserted. This perceived evasion has only fueled Aspinall's criticism toward Jones, whom he also chastised for his lifestyle. "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."
Fans Waiting in Anticipation
The anticipation for the rescheduled bout between Jones and Miocic is palpable among UFC fans. They are eagerly awaiting to see if Jones can still deliver top-tier performances as he eyes retirement. "Maybe Tom will go on and beat Stipe's record one day. Right now I'm focusing on goat things. The beautiful thing about being in my position is I'm not defined by one fight. Most of you grew up watching me win," Jones commented, indicating that his legacy speaks for itself.
As the UFC heavyweight division remains in flux, with fighters like Aspinall making strong cases for their positions at the top, the coming months promise to be crucial in defining the future champions. Whether Jones will take up Aspinall's challenge or continue to focus on his own path to retirement remains to be seen.