Jones is the better (the best) fighter, but Tom would destroy him.

[kuroro]

Jones is the best at range (and he has a reach edge against everyone) and close combat distance (elbows, knees).

He struggles the most at boxing distance. This is a no-brainer we can observe in many of his fights.

I'm pretty sure Jon could not keep Tom away with his kicks: Tom has trained/trains/would train with Rico Verhoeven, he'd be willing to eat a kick in order to get to punching distance.

And just throw. He had no problem to exchange with Pavlovich, he has a chin and Jones lacks the KO power.


I think Jones is the best to ever do it. Not the greatest, but the best.
But still, fighting vs someone able to eat whatever you throw at him to stay at the precise distance he wants (too far to be elbowed or knee'd, too close to shot a TD) and just throw punches at you... I can't see a path for victory here.

he'll get him down and choke him

 

[Tweak896]

No he does not. He dominated Gane who had no grappling and shit the bed mentally anyway and he spent most of a round on top of Stipe who escaped relatively unscathed. Even worse than not being able to finish Stipe, he looked like he didn't have the gas tank for more than one round of wrestling, at least consecutively. A Jones takedown in no way means the fight is over.

I'm talking about Stipe fight. He used a little bit of everything. There is no HW right now that uses kicks and punches like Jones. They all are boxers basically. Ironically Gane has same amount of submissions as Tom in UFC.

 

[Skarsgard]

I don't get how everyone can be so confident with Aspinall when Jones is more proven in every other area. Even at HW Jones continued to show a wide range of attacks and looks even better on the ground than he did at LHW. I think either Aspinall can get a quick KO, or it's going to be a long night for him. Aspinall has defended 2 takedowns his whole UFC career against Spivac in a 1 round fight.

I don't get how you watched those fights and came out confident that Jones still has it. He plodded around like a late-career Rampage. Lucky for him Stipe was retired and Gane is a one-trick pony.

 

[Captain Herb]

I'm talking about Stipe fight. He used a little bit of everything. There is no HW right now that uses kicks and punches like Jones. They all are boxers basically. Ironically Gane has same amount of submissions as Tom in UFC.

Gane learned a heel hook the first day of bjj, used it on a couple chumps and then kept trying to use it on everyone else, he looks completely ridiculous, he needs to learn another move.

 

[KungFuCow]

For sure Reyes beat jones.
Spoiler alert:
Aspinall rushes in, gets taken down and choked out. 1st round

You do realize that Tom is a BJJ blackbelt so he's not cluleless on the ground.

 

[JKS]

Jon will have problems trying to fight his fight here. Tom get the KO inside two rounds IMO.

 

[Tweak896]

I don't get how you watched those fights and came out confident that Jones still has it. He plodded around like a late-career Rampage. Lucky for him Stipe was retired and Gane is a one-trick pony.

Plenty of people tried to take Gane to the ground in UFC, fact is only Jones got the finish. You can put Jones above Gane's opponents as far as offensive wrestling goes.

Stipe fight Jones had throws, kicks, everything. No one else at HW has the variety and speed.

Gane learned a heel hook the first day of bjj, used it on a couple chumps and then kept trying to use it on everyone else, he looks completely ridiculous, he needs to learn another move.

Everyone knew Gane is a French kickboxer, he's defended more takedowns than Aspinall in UFC, submitted same amount of guys. Not sure why anyone thinks British are particularly good at wrestling.

 

[BowserJr]

Jones is the best at range (and he has a reach edge against everyone) and close combat distance (elbows, knees).

He struggles the most at boxing distance. This is a no-brainer we can observe in many of his fights.

I'm pretty sure Jon could not keep Tom away with his kicks: Tom has trained/trains/would train with Rico Verhoeven, he'd be willing to eat a kick in order to get to punching distance.

And just throw. He had no problem to exchange with Pavlovich, he has a chin and Jones lacks the KO power.


I think Jones is the best to ever do it. Not the greatest, but the best.
But still, fighting vs someone able to eat whatever you throw at him to stay at the precise distance he wants (too far to be elbowed or knee'd, too close to shot a TD) and just throw punches at you... I can't see a path for victory here.

Jon isnt even p4p the best. If you were to shrink him so he can make 155 or whatever his reach advantage is gone and he's not skilled enough anywhere except maybe grappling.

Hot take for the day

 

[BowserJr]

Jon will have problems trying to fight his fight here. Tom get the KO inside two rounds IMO.

From one OG to another I can see that happening but I could also see Jon oblique kicking Tom on his weak knee and injuring him early

 

[JKS]

From one OG to another I can see that happening but I could also see Jon oblique kicking Tom on his weak knee and injuring him early

I mean he could attempt it. But I don't really see that as a likely scenario. The main reason I am with Tom on this one is I think Jon is just slowed down. I think he's still in very good shape, but not prime shape anymore. And at HW, he just seems slower and less fluid. Aside that nice spinning kick he landed on Stipe.

 

[AmericanUppercut]

You do realize that Tom is a BJJ blackbelt so he's not cluleless on the ground.

I did not know that. Thought he was just a boxer stand up guy.
Maybe he can compete with Jones on the ground? Wow.
If so, this got good now.

 

[BowserJr]

I mean he could attempt it. But I don't really see that as a likely scenario. The main reason I am with Tom on this one is I think Jon is just slowed down. I think he's still in very good shape, but not prime shape anymore. And at HW, he just seems slower and less fluid. Aside that nice spinning kick he landed on Stipe.

I agree he looks slower. Both age and fight mileage does that. I find it interesting that when fighters get to about 30 fights (with many of them being at premier org/opponent level) they start to decline or get figured out

 

[LostMyBlackBelt]

Tom has never gone 2 rounds. He could end up getting embarrassed.

 

[Captain Herb]

Everyone knew Gane is a French kickboxer, he's defended more takedowns than Aspinall in UFC, submitted same amount of guys. Not sure why anyone thinks British are particularly good at wrestling.

Maybe Jones will run through Tommy on the ground, I guess it's possible. On paper, he looks to do substantially better than Gane and again, Jones couldn't do anything with Santos, Reyes, or Stipe on the ground so I'm not sure why he's going to do anything better against a bigger, stronger, younger, more motivated champ who's been training grappling since he was seven

 

[Dbreiden83080]

We never saw Tom in round 3 of a fight. Ever. If we had some footage, this might be easier to assess. Too many unknowns.

Exactly and what exactly are the odds that Jones can’t drag him into deep water? Seriously we are talking about a man in Jones that has never been rocked in a fight and people think he’s just going to fall down and NOT get up the first time he gets hit hard by Tom. Not going to happen.

Jones is the master at game plans and figuring things out as the fight goes. If the fight happens, he’s going to drag Tom into the deep water and likely drown him.

 

[Tweak896]

Maybe Jones will run through Tommy on the ground, I guess it's possible. On paper, he looks to do substantially better than Gane and again, Jones couldn't do anything with Santos, Reyes, or Stipe on the ground so I'm not sure why he's going to do anything better against a bigger, stronger, younger, more motivated champ who's been training grappling since he was seven

Santos he was trying to prove a point standing.
Reyes was a bad night, maybe he underestimated him? No excuse for that.
Stipe he almost finished and controlled him first round on ground, so I wouldn't say that.

Not to mention tons of better grapplers Jones out grappled like DC, which overrides any bad fights.

Aspinall has only stuffed 2 takedowns from Spivac his whole career in 1 round. So who knows? Most British fighters don't have great wrestling defense or training out there. However he's quick, young, a real HW, and tons of power.

My thoughts are Aspinall sparks Jones 1st round or gets drowned out anyway afterwards. And with that type of wager, you should bet on the grappler or the guy with proven cardio.