Media Aspinall: the issue is...

[Leinster Rugby]

Tom Aspinall claims UFC spoke to him about being backup for Jones vs. Miocic: ‘If somebody pulls out, I’m in’

Tom Aspinall says he was approached about serving as the backup to rumored Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic fight in November.

www.mmafighting.com

"The issue I have with Jon is he’s got the belt and I want it. I want it. I’ve got a belt too and I want to unify the belts. There shouldn’t be two heavyweight champions, there should be one, and I want it to be me. So that’s all I’m going for now...

“The issue is not with Jon. The issue is not with Stipe. The issue is with them holding the belt hostage. Give me the belt... The belt’s mine. I want it. I’m here for it. I’m here to take it. If you think you’re the man at heavyweight, I’ll take anybody. I’ll fight anybody for the undisputed belt.”

100% correct. Anyone else hope Stipe actually is injured and Tom can step in and end this farce?

 

[Spath]

I have some doubts about Jon fighting anyone but Stipe anymore. If Stipe is really injured I think we’ll catch one of those ”I’ve decided to retire young. Thanks for all the cheese!”



We’ll see. Aspinall beat everyone in the division except Gane (who’s booked to fight Volkov). Finished them quick, too.

 

[omawho402]

I'm as big a Jones fan as any, but Tom is totally justified in the way he feels.

 

[g*r*b]

Anyone else hope Stipe actually is injured and Tom can step in and end this farce?

No. I want Stipe-Jones to happen as soon as feasible. A few months more for it to be over, and it will be the fastest way. Face it: If Stipe is injured Jones will still stall, still spin out his rationales, still refuse to fight Aspinall.

 

[MEAN357]

Aspinall needs to just start cutting height and fight in a lower division if he wants a big name lol

 

[Leinster Rugby]

No. I want Stipe-Jones to happen as soon as feasible. A few months more for it to be over, and it will be the fastest way. Face it: If Stipe is injured Jones will still stall, still spin out his rationales, still refuse to fight Aspinall.

Did you read the headline?

 

[g*r*b]

Did you read the headline?

So what? Pavlovich was the backup for Stipe-Jones and ended up fighting neither of them. Tom was pulled off his couch to be put up against him instead; even though Stipe was perfectly able to go through with the fight, he wasn't even asked.

Jones is obviously, vocally set against fighting Tom. You think that if Tom is designated backup there wouldn't be some similar shenanigans pulled by Dana, on behalf of Jones who will immediately tweet out some ridiculous justification for why it was the best and only appropriate course of action?

And maybe I should underline, boldface and allcap that "if", because Tom has claimed more than one thing that turned out not to be true before this.

 

[DrRodentia]

Well it can't ever be said that Tom is running from tough fights. Jon can't say the same if he keeps doing what he's doing.

You can say Jon has already done everything he needs to do, and can call his own shots, but I don't think history will see it that way. Especially with such large lapses in activity, much of which a result of his own actions.

 

[DrRodentia]

So what? Pavlovich was the backup for Stipe-Jones and ended up fighting neither of them. Tom was pulled off his couch to be put up against him instead; even though Stipe was perfectly able to go through with the fight, he wasn't even asked.

Jones is obviously, vocally set against fighting Tom. You think that if Tom is designated backup there wouldn't be some similar shenanigans pulled by Dana, on behalf of Jones who will immediately tweet out some ridiculous justification for why it was the best and only appropriate course of action?

And maybe I should underline, boldface and allcap that "if", because Tom has claimed more than one thing that turned out not to be true before this.

I suppose that what even makes this a thing is that Tom is a defending interim champ that has beat most of the top condenders, and has a very rightful claim to the belt Jon holds without doing near the work within the division.

 

[Leinster Rugby]

So what? Pavlovich was the backup for Stipe-Jones and ended up fighting neither of them. Tom was pulled off his couch to be put up against him instead; even though Stipe was perfectly able to go through with the fight, he wasn't even asked.

Jones is obviously, vocally set against fighting Tom. You think that if Tom is designated backup there wouldn't be some similar shenanigans pulled by Dana, on behalf of Jones who will immediately tweet out some ridiculous justification for why it was the best and only appropriate course of action?

And maybe I should underline, boldface and allcap that "if", because Tom has claimed more than one thing that turned out not to be true before this.

So he made it all up. OK then lol.

No I don't think that. I think if one of them pulls out then they've finally run out of bullshit and excuses and cop outs and everything else. There isn't anything else they can say or any other way left to spin this.

 

[JakePaulMMA]

Aspinall needs to just start cutting height....if he wants a big name lo

Shane Carwin coming back?

 

[World eater]

They are just wasting Tom’s prime to entertain some notion of “goats fighting”. Both “goats” are past prime doing a legacy fight for big bucks which is fine, but the belt should gave been handed over to Tom after his interim defense.

 

[Leinster Rugby]

I Just want JJ going after stipe and retiring because a goat does that...but avoid Tom ...or anyone young..like ..I mean, win fights..go to that retirement home and beat ex boxers up..show them your the goat...even if LHW was catching up before you left...like find those old bastards.beat your wife...if you cant see through the BS of JJ..your an idiot..JJ is an amazing fighter but a piece of shit..if you dont see that...well IDC...drugs had allot to do with it..but thats not an excuse, if your a piece of crap...your a piece of crap..even if your record said other wise...but you have to live with yourself when you sucked as a human being...JJ..is a great fighter but a crappy person...just be honest...and admit it even if you were a fan...Dana excusing him and praising him has nothing to do with Dana liking JJ....read between the lines....Dana is a piece of shit too..who slapped his woman then said..F u...for criticizing him...it was on camera...Dana hated fedor...is it any clue why ?

Sorry but this is just too incoherent to take seriously.

 

[JackInTheBox]

They are just wasting Tom’s prime to entertain some notion of “goats fighting”. Both “goats” are past prime doing a legacy fight for big bucks which is fine, but the belt should gave been handed over to Tom after his interim defense.

There is no universe where a Stipe Jones fight does bigger bucks than an Aspinall Jones fight.

Stipe was so unfairly maligned by Dana for his lack of marketability that he wouldn't allow Dana to put the belt on him but now he's "the HW GOAT" and some ppv attraction 4 years after getting annihilated?

I'm not sure why Dana chose to die on this hill, but maybe there is truth to the rumours that Jon has dirt on him. It makes no sense whatsoever from a promotional standpoint that Dana protect the guy on way out from a rising superstar.

 

[KarateYeah]

I have some doubts about Jon fighting anyone but Stipe anymore. If Stipe is really injured I think we’ll catch one of those ”I’ve decided to retire young. Thanks for all the cheese!”



We’ll see. Aspinall beat everyone in the division except Gane (who’s booked to fight Volkov). Finished them quick, too.

Or "ive decided to retire young. Thanks for all the coke"

 

[Poatan Power]

Well it can't ever be said that Tom is running from tough fights. Jon can't say the same if he keeps doing what he's doing.

You can say Jon has already done everything he needs to do, and can call his own shots, but I don't think history will see it that way. Especially with such large lapses in activity, much of which a result of his own actions.

Silly.

Jones' legacy will be 4 things:

Undefeated
2 Division Champ
Steroids
Legal woes

Whether or not he, at 37, went through another meat grinder at heavyweight is barely relevant. It isn't like he barely scraped by a legacy at LHW like, say, Forrest or Rashad.

 

[World eater]

There is no universe where a Stipe Jones fight does bigger bucks than an Aspinall Jones fight.

That may or may not be so, but there is no universe where Aspinall is an easier fight than Stipe, especially at this time.
It is lame, but apparently having Stipe’s scalp on his resume means a lot to Picto.

 

[TJH Exitium]

No part of me thinks Jones would accept Aspinall as a late replacement - he would decline and the fight would be cancelled

Jones told the world he will only fight opponents who he has a physical advantage over - he's afraid to fight someone his own size or bigger than himself

Jones has made it clear he has no intention of actually fighting HW contenders and doesn't want anything to do with Aspinall. He ONLY wants to fight an aging Stipe who should already be retired


What a joke this is

 

[tritestill]

Maybe Dana has some preferences for things that Jon knows about...all speculation

 

[TheMadHatter]

I am one who has been looking at this from both perspectives. I get why Tom wants the fight against Jon. It would by far be the biggest fight of his career. His biggest payday, etc. At the same time I understand why Jones would rather fight Stipe. Stipe has already solidified a legacy as the best UFC heavyweight ever. On paper stipe is probably the easier fight currently. But on paper stipe also looks like a much nicer win on the resume where Tom is still newer in the division and there have been plenty of fighters who have fallen off when they were supposed to be the next big thing, especially at heavyweight. Pav comes to mind. If I was in Jones' shoes I would be wanting the stipe fight as well. no need for another Dom Reyes type fight where it is highly competitive and then the opponent falls off and goes on a losing skid.