Tag: Jon Jones

Tom Aspinall Questions Respect for Jon Jones for Avoiding Him and Francis Ngannou

Tom Aspinall Slams Jon Jones Ahead of UFC 309Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has responded to Jon Jones during the UFC 309 fight week. Bones’ Jones,…

Tom Aspinall Slams Jon Jones Ahead of UFC 309

Interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has responded to Jon Jones during the UFC 309 fight week. Bones’ Jones, the heavyweight champion, is set to fight former division king Stipe Miocic instead of the current interim title holder.

Tom Aspinall Slams Jon Jones Ahead of UFC 309

The English-born Tom Aspinall has put together an impressive win streak in the UFC heavyweight division. He has now captured and defended the UFC interim title. ‘Bones’ Jones is the UFC heavyweight champion, having captured the title in early 2023 but has yet to defend it.

Aspinall explained on his YouTube:

“I’m a bit disappointed that Jon, as the great champion he is, doesn’t want to give other guys the opportunity. Most champions would want to put the guy breathing down their neck in their place. If Jon thinks I don’t deserve it, then show me. If you kick my ass in front of the whole world, I’ll happily put my hand out and say, ‘You’re the better man, no problem.’ But this ducking and diving isn’t something I respect.

“This isn’t about Jon’s career, his legacy, or who he’s fighting—it’s because I want that belt. That’s all I care about. I want to prove I’m the No. 1 heavyweight on the planet, and he’s avoiding me.”

The UK-born fighter explained that Jones did the same thing to former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, Aspinall continued:

“Don’t be surprised that Jon always takes fights where he has an advantage. He avoided Francis Ngannou for three years. Jon always picks fights where he’s at an advantage, and that’s just a fact. I’m not coming after Jon personally, I’m coming after the belt. He has what I deserve, and I want to prove I’m the guy.”

On the UFC 309 main event, Tom Aspinall made his feelings clear about Jon Jones vs. Stipe Miocic, adding:

“Two champions are fighting, and one of them—Jon Jones—is avoiding the other champion, me. He’s chosen to fight a 42-year-old Stipe Miocic“

Stipe Miocic Insists He Would Have Returned With Or Without Jon Jones

For many fight fans, a defining trait of the main event of UFC 309 this Saturday night is activity. Whilst the defending heavyweight champion Jon Jones has only has one fight in well over four years, Stipe Miocic hasn’t fought since March of 2021. Not to mention the fact that in that fight, following his […]

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For many fight fans, a defining trait of the main event of UFC 309 this Saturday night is activity. Whilst the defending heavyweight champion Jon Jones has only has one fight in well over four years, Stipe Miocic hasn’t fought since March of 2021.

Not to mention the fact that in that fight, following his testing trilogy with Daniel Cormier that took three years to complete, Miocic was knocked out in devastating fashion by Francis Ngannou in their rematch at UFC 260.

The former two-time heavyweight champion is ready to return after his match-up with Jones was pushed back a year from UFC 295 due to Jones’ injury which only added to the talk about whether this will be a major factor at Madison Square Garden. For Miocic, he’s confident that the time away hasn’t had a negative impact on his ability.

He believes that he’s been able to let his body heal during this period and though he wasn’t dead-set on stepping back inside the Octagon, it was always an option for him after the Ngannou defeat. Miocic has said before that he pushed for a trilogy with his last opponent but when that didn’t happen, things went quiet on his end for quite some time.

In a recent interview with Brett Okamoto for ESPN MMA, the returning challenger said that making a return after his most recent fight was always an option on the table even if it wasn’t an absolute must for him.

“No I was always gonna fight man, I love fighting. I love what I do but I mean, I’m also okay with if it didn’t happen, I was okay with walking away.”

Later on in the interview, Miocic was asked whether he would have made his way back to the Octagon eventually if it wasn’t for this fight. If there was ever a reason to come back after a tough loss followed by a long break, a legacy defining fight against Jones where Miocic could recapture the heavyweight belt and become the first man to beat “Bones” at the same time would surely be the one.

He cut straight to the point, simply stating that he would have come back regardless of whether it was for this fight with Jones or something else.

Continue Reading Stipe Miocic Insists He Would Have Returned With Or Without Jon Jones at MMA News.

‘Eye Poke Bones Will Be Back’ – Fans React As UFC 309 Fighters Revealed To Be Using Old Gloves

Eyebrows have been raised after the promotion announced that those competing at this weekend’s UFC 309 pay-per-view won’t be using the new gloves. The mixed martial arts leader has touched back down in New York City this week for its annual numbered event at the iconic Madison Square Garden, where UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones […]

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Eyebrows have been raised after the promotion announced that those competing at this weekend’s UFC 309 pay-per-view won’t be using the new gloves.

The mixed martial arts leader has touched back down in New York City this week for its annual numbered event at the iconic Madison Square Garden, where UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones will mark the main attraction.

While he defends his belt against the returning Stipe Miocic in the UFC 309 headliner, co-main eventing will be former lightweight titleholder Charles Oliveira and Michael Chandler, who run it back three and a half years on from their first battle.

During fight week, those names and the rest of the lineup on Nov. 16 were told they wouldn’t be entering the Octagon sporting the new glove design that was introduced this past June.

The promotion announced the change back in April prior to UFC 300, outlining benefits such as additional padding to protect bone structure, a wristband locking system to prevent glove grabs, lighter weight and more flexibility.

A decrease in knockout percentages have kept the new gloves as a prominent talking point since, and the decision to revert back to the old gloves for UFC 309 got the MMA community talking online.

Many pointed to Jones’ history of eye pokes with the old design to share their conspiracy theories on the decision not to use the new gloves for his return fight.

It’s worth noting that the new design didn’t explicitly address the eye-poke issue, and that form of foul has far from been eradicated in the months since it was introduced.

Regardless, that didn’t stop fans from poking fun (pun intended) at Jones’ expense ahead of UFC 309.

Continue Reading ‘Eye Poke Bones Will Be Back’ – Fans React As UFC 309 Fighters Revealed To Be Using Old Gloves at MMA News.

Volkanovski: Jon Jones Not A ‘Proper Double Champ’ Until He Fights Tom Aspinall

Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe Jon Jones’ stint on the heavyweight throne will mean much if he continues to avoid facing Tom Aspinall. Jones secured the heavyweight crown in his divisional debut last year, running through Ciryl Gane in quick time to achieve glory in a second weight class. But his detractors […]

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Former UFC featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski doesn’t believe Jon Jones’ stint on the heavyweight throne will mean much if he continues to avoid facing Tom Aspinall.

Jones secured the heavyweight crown in his divisional debut last year, running through Ciryl Gane in quick time to achieve glory in a second weight class. But his detractors haven’t been short on ammunition when it comes to dismissing his status as kingpin.

While that started with claims he avoided a showdown with Francis Ngannou following “The Predator’s” rise to the top in 2021, the Rochester native is now being accused of ‘ducking’ Aspinall.

The Brit earned the interim title last November after Jones’ planned first defense against Stipe Miocic fell through on late notice due to an injury to the champ. A year later, “Bones” is choosing to keep his sights on the returning veteran instead of his interim counterpart.

That decision has been a prominent topic in the lead-up to Jones vs. Miocic this weekend at UFC 309, and among the latest to fall on the side of Aspinall in the debate is “Alexander the Great.”

During a video recently uploaded to his YouTube channel, Volkanovski gave his assessment of the heavyweight title picture, commenting on Jones’ recent claim that he’ll likely only fight beyond Saturday’s event if it was against light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira.

The Australian was firm in analyzing the damage that continuing to avoid Aspinall will do for Jones, insisting that he can’t be seen as the best heavyweight or a two-division champ unless he unifies the title.

“I’m sure Jon Jones is sick of hearing this, but the Tom Aspinall fight is the fight everyone wants to see,” Volkanovski said. “You want to be heavyweight champion? You want to claim that crown? It’s going to be hard to convince me you’re a defending champ if you don’t fight Tom Aspinall while he’s interim champ.

“He’s already got an incredible legacy. But if you want to claim the heavyweight division, say you’re a proper double champ…you’ve got to fight Tom Aspinall,” Volkanovski continued. “If you really want that on your résumé, ‘I was the best heavyweight while I was there,’ you have to fight Tom Aspinall. He is definitely the biggest threat. … I can see why he’s pointing to that (Pereira), but give away the heavyweight belt then.”

Aspinall himself has taken issue with some of Jones’ comments during UFC 309 fight week, posting his highlight reel inside the Octagon on social media in response to the all-time great questioning what he’s done on MMA’s biggest stage.

There’s also a chance of the pair running into each other in the coming days, with Aspinall currently in New York City to weigh in as backup fighter for the Nov. 16 main event.

Continue Reading Volkanovski: Jon Jones Not A ‘Proper Double Champ’ Until He Fights Tom Aspinall at MMA News.

Stipe Miocic Shrugs Off Critics Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight At UFC 309

Stipe Miocic seems indifferent to criticism leading up to his title showdown with Jon Jones at UFC 309. Miocic is gearing up to challenge reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jones in his bid for a third title shot, with the bout set to take place on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. […]

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Stipe Miocic seems indifferent to criticism leading up to his title showdown with Jon Jones at UFC 309.

Miocic is gearing up to challenge reigning UFC heavyweight champion Jones in his bid for a third title shot, with the bout set to take place on Nov. 16 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

In the lead-up to this highly anticipated bout, the former UFC heavyweight champion has faced a barrage of scrutiny for securing a fight against “Bones” after a lengthy hiatus of over three years. Meanwhile, interim titleholder Tom Aspinall remains on the sidelines, waiting for his opportunity at a championship unification clash.

During an interview with MMA Fighting, Miocic responded to the criticism surrounding his UFC 309 return, emphasizing that fight bookings ultimately rest with the UFC and are entirely out of his hands.

The 42-year-old Ohio native acknowledged that a Jones vs. Aspinall matchup would be huge, yet he believes his own showdown with Jones is the fight fans truly wanted to see.

“It wasn’t my choice,” Miocic said. “It’s a fight I wanted, and the UFC gave it to me. They didn’t have to. They gave it to me. I believe so [there’s a reason why it’s happening]. I believe people want to see that. I think a lot more people want to see the fight than him fight Aspinall. [Aspinall is] tough. He hits hard. Big boy. It’s what people want, he knocks people out.”

Miocic further shared that there was a time when the noise from naysayers might have gotten under his skin, but now he brushes it off without a second thought.

“I don’t listen to anything on the outside. I used to when I was younger, when I started I was like why would you say that? How dare you? I was real sensitive. I literally stopped caring anymore. I don’t care what anyone says. I really don’t care.”

Miocic has been out of action since his title loss to Francis Ngannou, who defeated him with a second-round knockout at UFC 260 in March 2021.

Originally slated for a comeback at UFC 295 in November 2023, Miocic’s return was delayed when Jones sustained a torn pectoral tendon just weeks before the anticipated showdown, leading to the bout’s postponement.

Continue Reading Stipe Miocic Shrugs Off Critics Ahead Of Jon Jones Fight At UFC 309 at MMA News.

Stipe Miocic Apologizes to Jon Jones: ‘Sorry If I Hurt His Feelings’

Stipe Miocic Apologizes to Jon Jones: 'Sorry If I Hurt His Feelings'Jon Jones didn’t take kindly to being called a bitch by his next opponent. 20 months removed from his…

Stipe Miocic Apologizes to Jon Jones: 'Sorry If I Hurt His Feelings'

Jon Jones didn’t take kindly to being called a bitch by his next opponent.

20 months removed from his UFC heavyweight title victory over Stipe Miocic, ‘Bones’ will return to the Octagon for a showdown with the division’s consensus GOAT, Stipe Miocic. The two combat sports icons will headline UFC 309 on Saturday night when the promotion makes its annual pit stop inside Madison Square Garden.

Stipe Miocic

In the months leading up to their long-awaited clash, Jones and Miocic have mostly avoided talking trash about one another. Instead, the fighters and fans have focused more on what comes next than on how things will play out in their heavyweight showdown.

However, Miocic seemingly struck a chord with ‘Bones’ after he labeled the two-division champ a “bitch” during the UFC 309 Countdown show. After learning of the slight, Jones snapped back at Miocic on social media.

Stipe Miocic

“Hiring black fighters to mimic me will not help you Stipe,” Jones wrote on X. “And you shouldn’t have called me a bitch, the disrespect wasn’t necessary. Let’s play.”

Stipe Miocic tries to make amends with jon jones

During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Miocic was informed of Jones’ comments which prompted the former two-time titleholder to offer up an apology and explain that his comments were not meant to be disrespectful.

“Oh yeah, he was just talking to me and I was talking to him,” Miocic said. “Like, you know, just bring it on. I don’t know. Well, I’m sorry if I hurt his feelings, I was just fired up. OK, I’m sorry if I was disrespectful to him anyway, it was just the heat of the moment. I’m sorry, I don’t know.”

Miocic’s return to the main event spotlight this weekend will be his first fight since a March 2021 loss to Francis Ngannou.

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Meanwhile, Jones will be competing for just the second time since a successful light heavyweight title defense against Dominick Reyes right before the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.