As anticipation builds for UFC 309: Jones vs. Miocic, interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has a clear message for Dana White, Jon Jones, and the MMA fanbase: keep the same energy when he steps up to face the heavyweight champion. Aspinall, known for his no-nonsense approach, wants people to stay consistent in their praise for Jones if and when he claims undisputed gold.
With Jon Jones hinting at a potential superfight with Alex Pereira rather than facing Aspinall, the British powerhouse remains unfazed. “I think he’s a strange and unpredictable guy, and I don’t think anybody really knows what he wants,” Aspinall remarked in a recent interview, describing Jones as “a bit of an odd guy” due to his uncertain statements about future opponents.
Aspinall, while eager to fight Jones, remains respectful of the champion’s career achievements—even if he’s been vocal about Jones’ past issues. “Even though I want to fight the guy, I’ve never once disrespected Jon Jones and what he’s done in his career,” he said, clarifying, “maybe I did accuse him of being on PEDs, which is a fact, that’s the truth… It’s hard to not respect that legacy apart from the PEDs.”
Tom Aspinall Tells Dana White and Fans to “Keep the Same Energy” If He Beats Jon Jones
Jones is often celebrated by Dana White as both the top pound-for-pound fighter and the greatest of all time, but Aspinall has a request for White and fans: show the same reverence if Jones loses. Aspinall explained, “All I ask is, like, Dana White saying that he’s the GOAT and he’s pound-for-pound number one—if I fight Jon Jones and beat him, he still has to be pound-for-pound. You can’t start saying he’s old then.”
Aspinall is clear in his stance: if he defeats Jones, he wants recognition, not excuses about Jones being past his prime. “You can’t say he’s passed it or he’s over blah blah blah; you can’t do that. If he’s the pound-for-pound GOAT or whatever, keep that same energy when I beat him… That’s what I ask.”
Jones, meanwhile, has been vocal about prioritizing other potential fights over a matchup with Aspinall. Speaking with Kevin Iole, Jones downplayed Aspinall’s position, saying, “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.” Jones suggested that Aspinall’s win over Sergei Pavlovich wasn’t enough to solidify him as a serious contender, claiming, “Sergei just got slaughtered by someone else.”
Jones Eyes Fight With Pereira
Jones indicated that a fight with Alex Pereira might better serve his legacy, noting, “If there were to be a fight with a guy that is still on the UFC roster that would be not only financially worth it but legacy worth it, it would be Alex Pereira.” He continued, “Alex Pereira and I, we’re both 37 years old… Right now, I weigh about 235, I’m an incredibly light heavyweight… That fight would go much farther on my legacy than a young man who is cool today, and maybe gone tomorrow.”
What do you make of Tom Aspinall’s comments! Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
