Tom Aspinall won’t even attempt to try and figure out what goes on inside Jon Jones’ head, but he knows without a doubt that the reigning UFC heavyweight champion is seeking out a far less risky opponent for his next fight.
After blitzing Curtis Blaydes with punches at UFC 304 to scores his third straight knockout win—this time in 60 seconds flat—Aspinall continued to call for a showdown against Jones to unify the titles in the heavyweight division. Aspinall currently holds the interim belt that he won this past November when Jones suffered a torn pectoral muscle that has kept him out of action for the better part of the past year.
In a perfect world, Aspinall would be preparing for the chance to become an undisputed champion later this year, but instead he’s going to have to sit on the sidelines while Jones battles Miocic in a fight currently targeted for November. For all the ways Jones has proclaimed that a win over Miocic means more to his legacy, Aspinall knows without a doubt that he’s a much bigger threat.
“Of course, Jon Jones is not an idiot,” Aspinall told MMA Fighting. “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.
“Obviously, he’s going to want to take that fight before me because it’s easier. Way easier. Way, way, way easier. He knows that I’m the tougher fight for him.”
It’s tough to argue against Aspinall’s logic considering the staggering run he’s put together since first arriving in the UFC.
Through nine fights, Aspinall boasts an 8-1 record with eight finishes and only one opponent who managed to make it to the second round against him. His lone loss came in his first bout against Blaydes when Aspinall tore the ACL in his knee just 15 seconds into the fight.
Aspinall recognizes the kind of danger he represents to anybody willing to set foot in the octagon against him, but that’s an even bigger risk for Jones, who has never legitimately tasted defeat during his career (his only loss came via disqualification due to illegal elbows in a fight he was already winning against Matt Hamill).
“I’m not going to say he’s scared because he isn’t,” Aspinall said about Jones. “But he’s smart in his approach and he’s going to fight Stipe before me every time.”
If Jones is successful in beating Miocic in November, a fight against Aspinall seems inevitable, but the 31-year-old fighter from England knows nothing is guaranteed — especially where Jones is concerned.
He vehemently called for a fight against Jones after initially winning the interim title and his shouts largely fell on deaf ears. Aspinall has taken a more measured approach ever since then but with his latest win against Blaydes, he knows it’s Jones or bust for him next.
In his heart of hearts, does Aspinall believe Jones will actually fight him?
“I have no idea,” Aspinall said bluntly. “I’d like to think he would but at this point is Jon Jones even fighting Stipe? We don’t know. We have 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.”
Even if Jones beats Miocic in November, Aspinall maintains his claim that the path to become the best heavyweight in the world goes through him.
If Jones disagrees, Aspinall is waiting to prove him wrong.
“Jon got one win in the heavyweight division. I got eight, all finishes,” Aspinall said. “I’m not saying my résumé is better than Jon Jones because it isn’t. It’s not close. He’s way better than me but as far as heavyweights go, I’m the best heavyweight in the world.”
