Media *** Jon Jones Says He Won't Fight Tom Aspinall MEGATHREAD ***

[muaythaibeast]

Hold on, let’s slow down a bit. “It’s ridiculous the bullshit Jones allowed to do.”

What is he being allowed to do? He’s fighting the person he was scheduled to fight before he got injured, and before Aspinall was given the interim title to begin with. Explain that one to me. You’re acting like it’s been five years. It’s been a single year.
Find me an example of a champion being injured and instantly vacating their title. You’re sperging out and being a drama queen for no reason. Grown men shouldn’t be whining this much.

It has nothing to do with the sport. The same fights are being booked— nothing would change. He didn’t stall. Jon won the actual title. Tom didn’t even deserve to fight for an interim title to begin with. They booked him against Stipe, and he got injure thus pushing the fight back. In that time, they gifted Aspinall an interim title shot, but the fight with Stipe was already in order.

Jamal Hill and Jiri both got injured and vacated immediately, both with the same number of defences as Jon.
Let's not pretend that a fight being booked holds any meaning at all when someone gets injured and has to pull out. We've got countless examples of fights that were booked that never happened for whatever reason. That fight was no longer valid the instant an interim champion was crowned, and should have been scrapped.

 

[Herwald]

Jon has now openly said he won't fight the Interim Champion yet is holding the "Undisputed" belt for the same division. He now says he would willingly vacate to fight Alex Pereira.

There have been lots of times where a fight that was booked no longer happens. IMO if Jon wanted to fight Stipe and only Stipe then he should be fighting him for a fake "Legacy" belt and should have already vacated the "Undisputed" one.

Defending against a retired 40 something that hasn't fought in 3 1/2 years in Stipe is = Bisping fighting Hendo in Hendo's last ever fight. Everyone gives Bisping shit for Ducking for that one when he did it 4 months after winning the title off of the ACTUAL champion. Jon has caused the HW title to be stalled out with one fight in almost 3 years barely getting to a 2nd assuming it happens Saturday. With the HW title Jon or anyone is obligated to defend but it is supposed to be against the #1 contender not a perfect style match up of their choosing. There is no more clear #1 contender then an Interim Champion who has more title defenses then the "Undisputed" champion.

Personally I don't think Jon is "Afraid" of Tom in the sense he would run away crying if they had a disagreement in a bar or something. He 100% is afraid to have a loss on his record and that's OK. But with all of Jon's talk about wanting to be seen as the clear GOAT of MMA only fighting Cyril and Stipe at 42 years old won't do it IMO. He has 1 fight at HW so he isn't even an actual Champion. Be beat 1 guy that was his perfect match up and that guy had never been a Champion. I think if Jon makes $X with all his PPV and undisclosed pay for the Stipe fight and they offered him $X straight salary for a Unification bout with Tom he would pass.

Without beating Tom Aspinall Jon was never a UFC HW champion.

I would have zero issues calling Jon a duck, but UFC are the ones who want that Stipe/Jon fight. Just so happens both of them are on board as well. Meanwhile, Tom's interim belt is fake and ghei - a charity belt that dropped out of Jon's & UFC's collective anus created to fix up a card and fulfill the ESPN title fight mandate. If anything, Tom is biting the hand that fed him. And you all know you'd be talking mad shit about Tom - how green he is - if Jon were to beat him, Jon already knows you guys don't believe Aspinall is the guy you say he is. You already tried this exact same shit with Pavlovich.

If Jon wins and sticks around, he's gonna fight whoever the fuck. But you guys acting like a dude, who's most notable win is a the ghost of Arlovski, is some major threat to the greatest fighter we've ever had, who just made easy work of Gane, who's more decorated and experienced than Tom or anyone he's ever fought (outside of Arlovski)... JFL.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

He is technically on a 3 fight win streak but you don't consider a second fight with a fluke injury a Loss and you know it. As a HW Tom has proven he is the best in the UFC right now. How is that "Up and Coming" he is the REAL HW champion in the UFC. To put it in context you might understand Jon was "Up and Coming" and then he won the UFC LHW title and was no longer "Up and Coming". Jon was 6-1 in the UFC before his first title fight. Guess what Tom's UFC record was in his Interim title fight? 6-1. He is now 8-1 in the UFC and has won 2 title fights.

"He’s not some dominant champion." You talking about Tom here or Jon? Jon isn't a real champion at HW. He has 1 whole fight at HW and has never beaten a HW champion. Gane wasn't ever a champion. Tom is the best HW in the UFC right now and Jon can face him or he truly never really moved up.

Jones doesn’t have to be some dominant or even as you say real champion at heavyweight at this stage of his career. You either think he is the greatest of all time or you don’t. A win overt Tom isn’t going to change anything. He’s 37 years old, and he’s probably past his prime. Nobody has his résumé, but some will discount it because of the suspensions which I understand to an extent. What I’m saying is fighting Tom one way or another doesn’t change the man’s legacy. We have no idea what Tom is going to be in two or three years. He might be the best HW in the world or he might be out of the UFC altogether we’ve seen it happen that quickly. This narrative being pushed is an old narrative being used forever in the UFC to bash fighters. Well, you are fighting this guy, but I would rather you fight that guy, and if you refuse to fight him, that means you’re scared or your legacy is somehow tarnished. Blah blah blah.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Neither Fedor or Cain was in the same realm as Aspinall for dominance on the way up.
Fedor obviously has a better legacy, but if you cant see why a guy who has 6 top 10 wins by first round finish, has never been outgrappled or outstruck in the UFC, and has never lost a round is legit, then I don't know what to tell you. Aspinall already has more top 10 finishes at heavyweight than Jones did at 205.
No other fighter in the history of the sport has had to do what Tom has prior to their first title shot.

To me when somebody is dominating that quickly I need to see them get dragged into deep water to really know what they are all about. Does he even have cardio? First round finish after first round finish OK what happens when he can’t do that? Because that’s going to happen at some point where he hast to go into championship rounds and does he have the gas tank to win? He is NOT someone like Cain in his prime because we knew that he had the greatest gas tank we ever saw at heavyweight and he had tremendous heart. Tom we will see??

 

[muaythaibeast]

To me when somebody is dominating that quickly I need to see them get dragged into deep water to really know what they are all about. Does he even have cardio? First round finish after first round finish OK what happens when he can’t do that? Because that’s going to happen at some point where he hast to go into championship rounds and does he have the gas tank to win? He is NOT someone like Cain in his prime because we knew that he had the greatest gas tank we ever saw at heavyweight and he had tremendous heart. Tom we will see??

At some point someone may be good enough to test him, but I don't think him being head and shoulders clear of the next best can be considered a weakness.
There's videos of him going back to back rounds in sparring with fresh partners on YouTube and he doesn't look gassed. We've certainly never seen anything to indicate he doesn't have a gas tank.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

At some point someone may be good enough to test him, but I don't think him being head and shoulders clear of the next best can be considered a weakness.
There's videos of him going back to back rounds in sparring with fresh partners on YouTube and he doesn't look gassed. We've certainly never seen anything to indicate he doesn't have a gas tank.

At some point someone may be good enough to test him, but I don't think him being head and shoulders clear of the next best can be considered a weakness

It is NOT a weakness, it is just an unknown right now.. Someone will either come along and test his heart and cardio or really put his chin to a test for several rounds. Part of the hype for Tom is people want the Jones fight and use Jones reluctance as fuel to bash him. But Jones is 37 now so to me losing to Tom would NOT change much for him, but for the haters it would be some sort of validation that he is NOT the GOAT..

There's videos of him going back to back rounds in sparring with fresh partners on YouTube and he doesn't look gassed. We've certainly never seen anything to indicate he doesn't have a gas tank.

Training is training. When you are in there with someone and it is round 4 and 5 when you are used to taking them all out in 2 min then you find out what that fighter is made of.. We have seen Jones dig deep over and over in his career. I think he’s the mentally toughest fighter ever. He’s broken the wills of so many in the cage..

 

[Time]

Jones doesn’t have to be some dominant or even as you say real champion at heavyweight at this stage of his career. You either think he is the greatest of all time or you don’t. A win overt Tom isn’t going to change anything. He’s 37 years old, and he’s probably past his prime. Nobody has his résumé, but some will discount it because of the suspensions which I understand to an extent. What I’m saying is fighting Tom one way or another doesn’t change the man’s legacy. We have no idea what Tom is going to be in two or three years. He might be the best HW in the world or he might be out of the UFC altogether we’ve seen it happen that quickly. This narrative being pushed is an old narrative being used forever in the UFC to bash fighters. Well, you are fighting this guy, but I would rather you fight that guy, and if you refuse to fight him, that means you’re scared or your legacy is somehow tarnished. Blah blah blah.

Nah, this isn't the first time Jones has tried to cherry pick an easy matchup and avoid the bigger risk.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

Nah, this isn't the first time Jones has tried to cherry pick an easy matchup and avoid the bigger risk.

And yet he has the best resume of all time.. By a lot..

 

[dipstickjimmy]

I would have zero issues calling Jon a duck, but UFC are the ones who want that Stipe/Jon fight. Just so happens both of them are on board as well. Meanwhile, Tom's interim belt is fake and ghei - a charity belt that dropped out of Jon's & UFC's collective anus created to fix up a card and fulfill the ESPN title fight mandate. If anything, Tom is biting the hand that fed him. And you all know you'd be talking mad shit about Tom - how green he is - if Jon were to beat him, Jon already knows you guys don't believe Aspinall is the guy you say he is. You already tried this exact same shit with Pavlovich.

If Jon wins and sticks around, he's gonna fight whoever the fuck. But you guys acting like a dude, who's most notable win is a the ghost of Arlovski, is some major threat to the greatest fighter we've ever had, who just made easy work of Gane, who's more decorated and experienced than Tom or anyone he's ever fought (outside of Arlovski)... JFL.

Saying the UFC is the one who wants Jon vs Stipe and its not the only fight Jon would come back for is showing how naive you are.

Jon's title is legit but Tom's isn't? Based on what? You realize Jon has 1 HW fight in his entire career right? Tom is green? You get we are talking about HW where Tom has 18 career fights and Jon has 1. So who is green? Jon is the GOAT LHW but he is nothing at HW so far. I would have a lot more respect for Jon as a fighter if he fought the actual HW champion. It would add to his legacy a lot more beating Tom then Stipe at this point in his career. Cherry picking Gane who was his perfect style match up and NEVER a champion doesn't make Jon a HW champion. If Jon wants a payday maybe the fight with Stipe sells better but for his Legacy Tom means he fought the best HW available regardless of style and ducking him means Jon won some fights (Gane & Stipe assuming he wins) but was never champion. That's why GSP will always be greater then Jon. If he does fight Tom and wins he will be ahead of GSP regardless of his Cheating.

 

[TITS]

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Jones doesn’t have to be some dominant or even as you say real champion at heavyweight at this stage of his career. You either think he is the greatest of all time or you don’t. A win overt Tom isn’t going to change anything. He’s 37 years old, and he’s probably past his prime. Nobody has his résumé, but some will discount it because of the suspensions which I understand to an extent. What I’m saying is fighting Tom one way or another doesn’t change the man’s legacy. We have no idea what Tom is going to be in two or three years. He might be the best HW in the world or he might be out of the UFC altogether we’ve seen it happen that quickly. This narrative being pushed is an old narrative being used forever in the UFC to bash fighters. Well, you are fighting this guy, but I would rather you fight that guy, and if you refuse to fight him, that means you’re scared or your legacy is somehow tarnished. Blah blah blah.

You are the one who said Tom isn't a "Dominant Champion" to defend why Jon shouldn't fight him. I think Jon is the GOAT LHW even with his cheating but he is not "THE GOAT" that he wants us all to believe he is, for me that is GSP.

Jon can 100% become the GOAT of GOATs. How you ask? By actually becoming a LEGIT HW champion. Unfortunately for Jon his and his ego he needs to be thought of as the GOAT. He proved this by being a crybaby on Twitter when Khabib took his #1 spot on the P4P list. Also unfortunate for Jon he choose to wait for Stipe to age out when he could have fought him right after vacating LHW. Jon was 222.5 lbs fighting in California for Gus 2. Diets down to that 222.5 and cuts water to make 205. That means naturally without restricting his calories to make LHW he would be 230-235 ish. Stipe fought DC in 2020 (same year Jon left LHW) and weighed in at 233 lbs. Jon was always big enough to fight at HW but didn't want a Stipe fight back then when he was 32 and Stipe 38. He also didn't go to HW when Francis was champion and magically was ready to fight when Frank left for greener pastures. Jon avoided Legit HWs that had fought their way up through HW to become champion and instead fought a good HW with GLARING holes that perfectly suited Jon's style.

Tom is more legit at HW then Jon and beating him would 100% put Jon ahead of GSP on the all time list. Without that Jon falls into the same category as Anderson who "Moved Up" to fight 3 slow sloppy brawlers with no offensive wrestling and no KO threat for Anderson. Showcase fights are not = beating the reigning champion in the weight class above.

 

[Dbreiden83080]

You are the one who said Tom isn't a "Dominant Champion" to defend why Jon shouldn't fight him. I think Jon is the GOAT LHW even with his cheating but he is not "THE GOAT" that he wants us all to believe he is, for me that is GSP.

Tom isn't a dominant champ he is the flavor of the month right now as far as I am concerned.. He'd have far less hype if people weren't using him to bash Jones.. I agree about GSP..

Jon can 100% become the GOAT of GOATs. How you ask? By actually becoming a LEGIT HW champion. Unfortunately for Jon his and his ego he needs to be thought of as the GOAT. He proved this by being a crybaby on Twitter when Khabib took his #1 spot on the P4P list. Also unfortunate for Jon he choose to wait for Stipe to age out when he could have fought him right after vacating LHW. Jon was 222.5 lbs fighting in California for Gus 2. Diets down to that 222.5 and cuts water to make 205. That means naturally without restricting his calories to make LHW he would be 230-235 ish. Stipe fought DC in 2020 (same year Jon left LHW) and weighed in at 233 lbs. Jon was always big enough to fight at HW but didn't want a Stipe fight back then when he was 32 and Stipe 38. He also didn't go to HW when Francis was champion and magically was ready to fight when Frank left for greener pastures. Jon avoided Legit HWs that had fought their way up through HW to become champion and instead fought a good HW with GLARING holes that perfectly suited Jon's style.

Tom is more legit at HW then Jon and beating him would 100% put Jon ahead of GSP on the all time list. Without that Jon falls into the same category as Anderson who "Moved Up" to fight 3 slow sloppy brawlers with no offensive wrestling and no KO threat for Anderson. Showcase fights are not = beating the reigning champion in the weight class above.

People dismiss Jones because of the PED's. I get it to an extent.. But his resume is that of a GOAT.. He won the HW belt, and what happened? People dismissed it. They dismissed it because they blamed him for NOT fighting Francis. Even though Francis hated Dana and the UFC and admits to turning down all UFC offers so he could leave.. For Jones. Fighting and beating Tom changes very little and he knows it.. The people that won't anoint him the GOAT are sure as hell NOT going to do it if he beats Tom. This is NOT some legendary HW champ here that has been on top for 3 or 4 years mauling every top contender. People are really riding this guy hard to trash Jones..

 

[dipstickjimmy]

Tom isn't a dominant champ he is the flavor of the month right now as far as I am concerned.. He'd have far less hype if people weren't using him to bash Jones.. I agree about GSP..

People dismiss Jones because of the PED's. I get it to an extent.. But his resume is that of a GOAT.. He won the HW belt, and what happened? People dismissed it. They dismissed it because they blamed him for NOT fighting Francis. Even though Francis hated Dana and the UFC and admits to turning down all UFC offers so he could leave.. For Jones. Fighting and beating Tom changes very little and he knows it.. The people that won't anoint him the GOAT are sure as hell NOT going to do it if he beats Tom. This is NOT some legendary HW champ here that has been on top for 3 or 4 years mauling every top contender. People are really riding this guy hard to trash Jones..

You are very focused on this from Jon's point of view. Its very odd. As a fan of Jon do you not want to see him actually challenge the best HWs? "Tom hasn't been champ for 3-4 years" is a stupid statement. GSP beat the MW champion and that was Bisping. He wasn't a long reigning champion but that doesn't take away GSP's accomplishment of BEATING the ACTUAL champion.

Jon never beat the UFC champion just like Oliveria didn't beat the UFC LW champion. Olives beating Chandler didn't make him a legit LW champion. Vacant belts should never be awarded to the winner of a single fight from 2 randomly selected fighters. Chandler had 1 UFC fight and wasn't a reigning LW champion of an equal promotion. He lost the Bellator title to a FW and then beat a maybe top 40 LW in Outlaw and the ghost of Benson Henderson.

Charles truly proved his title Lineage beating Dustin & Justin. Jon has the chance to do that but has instead to this point "Cherry Picked" a Vacant title fight with Gane (never champion) and a 3 1/2 year retired 42 year old rather than fight the current BEST HW.

A lot of this is on the UFC and a lot of it is on Jon. I find it weird you don't want to see Jon go to HW and actually see if he can be as dominant as he was at LHW rather than wear a HW belt that is as legit as the BMF Belt.

All Jon has to do is Unify his title with the one Tom is holding and he will be Legit the GOAT. Right now he is the GOAT LHW with an Asterix for his cheating.

 

[mkess101]

Tom isn't a dominant champ he is the flavor of the month right now as far as I am concerned.. He'd have far less hype if people weren't using him to bash Jones.. I agree about GSP..

People dismiss Jones because of the PED's. I get it to an extent.. But his resume is that of a GOAT.. He won the HW belt, and what happened? People dismissed it. They dismissed it because they blamed him for NOT fighting Francis. Even though Francis hated Dana and the UFC and admits to turning down all UFC offers so he could leave.. For Jones. Fighting and beating Tom changes very little and he knows it.. The people that won't anoint him the GOAT are sure as hell NOT going to do it if he beats Tom. This is NOT some legendary HW champ here that has been on top for 3 or 4 years mauling every top contender. People are really riding this guy hard to trash Jones..

I mean this in the nicest way possible: Aspinall is only a "flavor of the month" to those who don't know what they're watching when they watch fights. I don't give a fuck about him personally and if Jones beat his ass, fine by me (though I don't see that happening). I just want to see the best fight the best. And anyone who watches Aspinall and how he moves at that size and what he's capable of and don't think he's elite just don't known what they're looking at. Doesn't mean he'd definitely beat Jones at all. It means we should see them fight so we can find out. As fans of the sport.

 

[Time]

And yet he has the best resume of all time.. By a lot..

He's also a known cheat.

 

[Natural Order]

Jones was given a shot at Shogun for the title in his 8th UFC fight, after going undefeated. Three notable wins being Vera, Vladdy and Bader.
Aspinall has had 9 fights in the UFC, arguably being undefeated himself. Three notable wins being Volkov, Pavlovich and Blades.

Very similar points/starts to their career. Difference being that Shogun didn't shy from the up and comer to have some legacy fights....

 

[Dbreiden83080]

He's also a known cheat.

Yeah but in truth USADA muddied a lot of that up. Only further complicated by the fact that USADA is now gone.