Tag: Jon Jones

‘What’s The Aspinall RD1 Line?’ – Fans React To Tom Aspinall Being Favorite In Jon Jones Matchup Post-UFC 309

A much-desired title unification fight between UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and his interim counterpart Tom Aspinall continues to be the talk of the town. Despite Aspinall having the interim belt wrapped around his waist in 2023, both Jones and the promotion remained steadfast on a decision to reschedule the champ’s clash with the returning […]

A much-desired title unification fight between UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and his interim counterpart Tom Aspinall continues to be the talk of the town.

Despite Aspinall having the interim belt wrapped around his waist in 2023, both Jones and the promotion remained steadfast on a decision to reschedule the champ’s clash with the returning Stipe Miocic.

And a few months on from Aspinall successfully defending his strap in Manchester, that went down this past weekend inside Madison Square Garden, where Jones vs. Miocic headlined the UFC 309 pay-per-view.

As many had predicted, Miocic looked a far cry from the iteration that enjoyed two stints on the heavyweight throne. And after a dominant start from “Bones,” the Rochester native ultimately closed the show in round three with a brutal spinning side kick to the body.

It didn’t take long for Aspinall’s name to once again be presented to Jones. Although he appeared to entertain the prospect of facing the Brit inside the Octagon, his post-fight press conference told a different story.

But despite the fight appearing to remain a significant distance away from coming to fruition, that hasn’t stopped the fanbase from pondering who would emerge as undisputed king.

In the immediate aftermath of Jones’ win, the betting lines had Aspinall favored to do so.

Aspinall has widely been branded the leading man when it comes to the ‘new generation’ of heavyweights competing on MMA’s biggest stage, with his speed, power, and agility helping him accumulate an 8-1 record in the UFC — the sole defeat on which came by way of a freak knee injury.

With that in mind, many seem to be leaning toward the interim champ when pondering his chances against Jones, with some even suggesting that the line should be wider in his favor.

Some others, however, were left bemused by seeing a leading candidate for GOAT status sat as an underdog.

Jon Jones Touts ‘Scary’ Training Partner From UFC 309 Camp As A Future Champion

Jon Jones has always surrounded himself with some of the best of the best in their chosen fields to help him in his career. During the time that he has spent at heavyweight, this means bringing in big bodies that can really push him physically day-in and day-out. The heavyweight champion’s preparations in Albuquerque clearly […]

Jon Jones has always surrounded himself with some of the best of the best in their chosen fields to help him in his career. During the time that he has spent at heavyweight, this means bringing in big bodies that can really push him physically day-in and day-out.

The heavyweight champion’s preparations in Albuquerque clearly paid off for him in his second fight in the weight class this past weekend. In the main event of UFC 309, he stopped the returning Stipe Miocic in the third round to defend his heavyweight title for the first time.

As seen in social media videos or the fight week build-up, two elite grapplers joined Jones for this camp, along with some of the boxers that he trained with. Standing side-by-side on the mats with Jones and elite grappler Gordon Ryan was the former Olympic gold medallist wrestler, Gable Steveson.

After becoming the youngest freestyle wrestler in his weight class to ever win Olympic gold having only recently turned 21-years old at the time, Steveson left Tokyo in 2021 with the world at his feet. There was a lot of talk as to whether he would move into MMA or professional wrestling and after brief stints in WWE and the NFL that didn’t work out, it looks like the Octagon could be in his future.

Jones spoke in his post-fight press conference about how Steveson showed that he had the passion and mentality to learn after offering to step-in for one of Jones’ injured sparring partners during a training session. He also referenced a video that caught the attention of fans on social media where Steveson shot in for a takedown and was hit by a knee from “Bones”.

“I kneed him in the face at one of his very first practices. He ate it, and he looked like a little kid who had just found a new toy.”

Jones believes that his teammate for this recent fight camp has all the tools he needs to succeed in MMA if he chooses to stay the course and develop his overall game. At just 24-years old, Steveson still has a lot of time to develop into a serious threat in MMA.

“He’s gonna be scary, he’s gonna be very scary when he decides to do MMA. He knows how to make men appear very weak, me being one of them. When he learns how to box and learns a little about jiu-jitsu, it’s a matter of if he’ll become a UFC champion, it’s when he’ll be a UFC champion. Whether he trains in Albuquerque with our family or finds a different team, whoever has him are going to be really blessed to have him.”

Former Fighter Blasts ‘Cheating Steroid Rat’ Jon Jones In Reaction To UFC 309 Win: ‘Lance Armstrong Of MMA’

Jon Jones may be considered to be the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts but his incredible accomplishments inside the Octagon don’t come without come controversy along the way. For everything that “Bones” has done during his UFC tenure which is worth highlighting, there are plenty of other talking points that don’t color […]

Jon Jones may be considered to be the greatest of all time in mixed martial arts but his incredible accomplishments inside the Octagon don’t come without come controversy along the way. For everything that “Bones” has done during his UFC tenure which is worth highlighting, there are plenty of other talking points that don’t color the heavyweight champion in the best light.

Some of these examples from the past are unavoidable when reflecting on Jones’ career like his previous suspensions from the UFC whilst others, like his run-ins with the law, are more of a reflection of his public image rather than his professional achievements. Despite all of this, UFC 309 was built up as the return of the GOAT who would be defending his belt for the first and possibly last time.

Jones was able to dominate Stipe Miocic in the main event at Madison Square Garden before going on to suggest that he will be sticking around for one more fight before calling time on one of the sport’s greatest careers. One former member of the roster that didn’t take the moment to celebrate another win on Jones’ record was Mark Hunt.

Since departing the UFC, “The Super Samoan” has been incredibly critical of his former home, particularly when talking about athletes that have either been accused or found guilty of taking performance enhancing drugs. This stems from Hunt’s fight against the returning Brock Lesnar at UFC 200 where he later attempted to sue the promotion, claiming that they knew Lesnar had failed a pre-fight test but withheld the information until after the bout.

He posted on social media and referenced Jones’ somewhat murky past with the UFC’s drug-testing procedures.

“The ufc heavyweight champion of the world ladies and gentlemen there u have it a cheating steroid rat who runs into pregnant women and runs off a rat that hides under the octagon for 10 hours hiding from being tested for drugs this is your ufc heavyweight champion this is the rat u need to look upto this is the rat we promote please be upstanding and raise your glass to a company that has zero credibility worthless belt worthless champion and even more worthless rip off company any other sport this loser wouldn’t be here that’s why ufc have no credibility because they promote this garbage.”

VIDEO: Israel Adesanya Applauds Jon Jones Performance During UFC 309 Live Reaction

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya appeared impressed while watching Jon Jones send Stipe Miocic into retirement with a brutal kick this past weekend. Jones and Miocic headlined Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, completing their long-awaited matchup over a year on from an injury shelving it first […]

Former two-time UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya appeared impressed while watching Jon Jones send Stipe Miocic into retirement with a brutal kick this past weekend.

Jones and Miocic headlined Saturday’s UFC 309 pay-per-view inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, completing their long-awaited matchup over a year on from an injury shelving it first time around.

Returning from a spell on the sidelines that spanned over three and a half years, many dismissed Miocic’s chances of unseating Jones and adding a third heavyweight reign to his illustrious record.

And the veteran ultimately failed in his pursuit of proving them wrong, with “Bones” following a dominant opening round by eventually finding the finish in the third frame with a vicious spinning side kick to the body.

In spite of many focusing on his avoidance of Tom Aspinall, Jones’ latest triumph on MMA’s biggest stage drew widespread plaudits, including from some UFC peers whom he’s not always seen eye to eye with…

During a video recently uploaded to his FREESTYLEBENDER YouTube channel, Adesanya reacted live to the events that unfolded on the UFC 309 main card at MSG.

The Nigerian-New Zealander didn’t have much to say during the finishing sequence in the headliner, instead simply applauding Jones’ work.

“He did it, as he does,” Adesanya said. “Great main event. … Good to see Stipe hang them up. I still think he went out on top.”

He was subsequently asked the question on everyone’s lips — will a unification fight with Aspinall happen?

“I think it’ll happen. If Jones is not retiring, I think they’ll figure it out,” Adesanya said. “Talk to Hunter (Campbell), talk to Dana (White)…sit down in the War Room, they’ll hash it out, they’ll figure it out.”

While Jones initially appeared to tease a stance switch inside the Octagon when he suggested he could give the masses what they want, he quickly reverted back to dismissing Aspinall and expressing a desire to face Alex Pereira when he arrived backstage.

No Bigger Fight in MMA or Boxing Than Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Explains Ariel Helwani

Jon Jones vs. Tom AspinallAfter the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall,…

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

After the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, according to top MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. All week in New York while ‘Bones’ was getting ready for his match against former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, the discussion revolved around the interim champion Aspinall.

Jon Jones TKOs Stipe Miocic with Brutal Spinning Back Kick, Leaves Door Open for Aspinall Fight - UFC 309 Highlights

The fans during the press conference made their voices clear that the matchup they truly wanted was Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall. The UK-born athlete captured the interim UFC title and even defended it, but has yet to meet the reigning UFC heavyweight king Jon ‘Bones’ Jones. Instead, this week at UFC 309, Jones scored a knockout victory over Stipe Miocic.

The issue was that Jon Jones did not want to face Tom Aspinall. According to ‘Bones,’ he will either retire or face the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Jon Jones UFC 309

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall has to happen

MMA Journalist Ariel Helwani explained that after UFC 309, the fight that needs to happen is Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall.

Betting Shocker: Tom Aspinall Opens as Favorite Over Underdog Jon Jones for Heavyweight Unification

He added that between both MMA and boxing, there is no bigger fight to make. He explained:

“I will say this right here: now, my most desired fight is Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall. What Jon Jones did this week to build that fight, and what Tom Aspinall did this week to build that fight — to be there as the backup fighter, to make his presence felt, to show up in the fur coat, mink coat, whatever it was, walk past his brothers with those new pearly whites — God, I wanna see that so bad.

“And I wanna see it so bad because of the build, because of the animosity, because of the respect — disrespect. But I also wanna see it so bad because of the fight. Look at that trip, look at those elbows to ground and pound. Can he do that to Tom Aspinall? Can he keep him on the ground with his black belt? Can Jon do that? Maybe.

“I don’t know if there’s a fight out there on the table — honestly, in MMA or boxing right now — that intrigues me more than Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall.”

No Bigger Fight in MMA or Boxing Than Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall Explains Ariel Helwani

Jon Jones vs. Tom AspinallAfter the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall,…

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall

After the buildup surrounding UFC 309, we simply have to see the matchup of Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall, according to top MMA journalist Ariel Helwani. All week in New York while ‘Bones’ was getting ready for his match against former UFC heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic, the discussion revolved around the interim champion Aspinall.

Jon Jones TKOs Stipe Miocic with Brutal Spinning Back Kick, Leaves Door Open for Aspinall Fight - UFC 309 Highlights

The fans during the press conference made their voices clear that the matchup they truly wanted was Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall. The UK-born athlete captured the interim UFC title and even defended it, but has yet to meet the reigning UFC heavyweight king Jon ‘Bones’ Jones. Instead, this week at UFC 309, Jones scored a knockout victory over Stipe Miocic.

The issue was that Jon Jones did not want to face Tom Aspinall. According to ‘Bones,’ he will either retire or face the light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

Jon Jones UFC 309

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall has to happen

MMA Journalist Ariel Helwani explained that after UFC 309, the fight that needs to happen is Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall.

Betting Shocker: Tom Aspinall Opens as Favorite Over Underdog Jon Jones for Heavyweight Unification

He added that between both MMA and boxing, there is no bigger fight to make. He explained:

“I will say this right here: now, my most desired fight is Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall. What Jon Jones did this week to build that fight, and what Tom Aspinall did this week to build that fight — to be there as the backup fighter, to make his presence felt, to show up in the fur coat, mink coat, whatever it was, walk past his brothers with those new pearly whites — God, I wanna see that so bad.

“And I wanna see it so bad because of the build, because of the animosity, because of the respect — disrespect. But I also wanna see it so bad because of the fight. Look at that trip, look at those elbows to ground and pound. Can he do that to Tom Aspinall? Can he keep him on the ground with his black belt? Can Jon do that? Maybe.

“I don’t know if there’s a fight out there on the table — honestly, in MMA or boxing right now — that intrigues me more than Jon Jones versus Tom Aspinall.”