Fans React After Jones Ducks Aspinall Again – ‘He Hasn’t Proven Anything’
Jon Jones has once again indicated that he does not need to fight Tom Aspinall, stating that a fight with Alex Pereira is much bigger.
Jones defends his UFC Heavyweight Title at UFC 309 on November 16 against Stipe Miocic. The American will make the first defense of his heavyweight title. He secured the belt via a first round submission win against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285 last year. He was meant to face Miocic at UFC 295.
But Jones injured his pectoral muscle while sparring, and the fight was called off. Aspinall has since worked himself into a title shot after beating Curtis Blaydes in his last fight at UFC 304. Dana White has already confirmed that Aspinall will face the winner of Jones vs. Miocic. Stipe will reportedly retire after this fight. However, the 42-year-old has since stated that he is unsure. He will decide on his future after the fight.
Meanwhile, Jones could also retire with suggestions that he is looking to go out after a win against Miocic. If Jones continues and does not face Aspinall, then the other fight being talked about is against Alex Pereira. Pereira is the UFC Light Heavyweight champion who is coming off a stoppage victory against Khalil Rountree Jr. The Brazilian has previously indicated that he is willing to move up to heavyweight if the fans want it in order to pursue a title shot. Pereira is already a two-weight world champion, having won belts at middleweight and light heavyweight.
Jones Reacts
He regularly rehydrates to around 230 pounds after making the light heavyweight limit, showing that he has the frame to put on the weight. But since Pereira is not a natural heavyweight, there are suggestions that Jones is simply finding another reason to not fight Aspinall. Aspinall has stopped his last three opponents in the first round since coming back from his knee injury against Blaydes in 2022. But once again, Jones indicated he is not interested in fighting Tom. He felt the Brit has not done enough to earn a title shot, as he downplayed his current achievements.
“More than likely not. I feel like Tom Aspinall is, I don’t want to say nobody, but he just hasn’t proven anything. He hasn’t done anything. I understand he won his belt against Sergei, and Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else, so it’s like, I’m not here to gamble someone else making a name off of me.
“I’m here to compete against the guys where when we look back, you know, 10 years from now, you’ll be like, ‘Jon Jones fought this guy and that guy, this legend, and that champion and this champion. “If there were to be a fight of a guy that’s still on our UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it, but legacy worth it, it would be Alex Pereira,” Jones said
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