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Stephen A. Smith’s Take On Jones vs. Aspinall Infuriates Former UFC Fighter: ‘Ban This Man From Speaking’

Sports television personality Stephen A. Smith sees UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones as the “best on the planet” and can’t picture anybody getting the better of him, Tom Aspinall included. Smith provided his reaction to Jones’ latest performance — a TKO victory over Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 — on a […]

Sports television personality Stephen A. Smith sees UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones as the “best on the planet” and can’t picture anybody getting the better of him, Tom Aspinall included.

Smith provided his reaction to Jones’ latest performance — a TKO victory over Stipe Miocic in the main event of UFC 309 — on a recent episode of First Take alongside Shannon Sharpe on ESPN.

The former light heavyweight kingpin added a first successful heavyweight defense to his record at Madison Square Garden, stopping the returning Miocic with a brutal spinning side kick to the body in round three.

No sooner had Jones had his hand raised in “The Big Apple,” talk turned to a much-awaited title unification fight with interim champ Aspinall, who was cageside at MSG after weighing in as backup for the main event last Friday.

But while Jones’ repeated dismissal of the Brit has led some to suggest he fears defeat, Smith isn’t entertaining that as a possibility.

“I think he’s the best on the planet. He’s the greatest in MMA that I’ve ever seen,” Smith said. “I’ve always said to everybody, you’ve got to show me to make me believe that somebody’s going to beat Jon ‘Bones’ Jones, ’cause I just don’t see it happening. He’s just too elite.”

When a clip of his remarks was posted on X, Aspinall’s fellow countryman, ex-UFC title challenger Darren Till, made his thoughts on Smith clear…

Stephen A Smith has the IQ of a mole. Please ban this man from ever speaking about anything ever again.

— DT (@darrentill2) November 18, 2024

“Stephen A Smith has the IQ of a mole,” Till wrote. “Please ban this man from ever speaking about anything ever again.”

Smith has previously caught the ire of the MMA community, most notably when he suggested Donald Cerrone “didn’t want to be there” when he was blitzed by Conor McGregor in 40 seconds at UFC 246.

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

Stephen A. Smith confident Jon Jones finishes Alex Pereira by round 2 and ‘won’t throw a punch’ while doing it

Stephen A. Smith confident Jon Jones finishes Alex Pereira by round 2 and 'Won't throw a Punch' while doing it Stephen A. Smith believes Jon Jones would finish Alex Pereira without having to throw a single punch. Though ‘Bones’…

Stephen A. Smith believes Jon Jones would finish Alex Pereira without having to throw a single punch.

Though ‘Bones’ currently sits as the undisputed UFC heavyweight world champion, he seems much more interested in talking about the goings on at 205. Specifically, the division’s reigning king. Earlier this year, Jones revealed that a potential clash with ‘Poatan’ is on his radar after suggesting a fight between the two would be the biggest matchup the UFC could slap together.

Discussing the possibility of Jones vs. Pereira with Hall of Famer and former two-division titleholder Daniel Cormier, Smith offered up a fairly bold prediction for the fantasy matchup.

“Jon ‘Bones’ Jones is the greatest ever in my opinion and I’m gonna tell you something right now… He will take Pereira out inside of two rounds,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take. “And you know what, he won’t throw a punch. He ain’t tryin’ to sit up there and box. I’m telling you right now, [Jones] will take him out. He can’t mess with Jon ‘Bones’ Jones.”

Stephen A. Smith backs Jon Jones to beat Alex Pereira in a potential fight:

“Jon Bones Jones is the greatest ever… he will take Pereira out inside of 2 rounds. And you know what, he won’t throw a punch…

I’m telling you right now, [Jones] will take him out. He can’t mess with… pic.twitter.com/qdMu3dE9hC

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 28, 2024

Is a fight with Alex Pereira the only thing that will keep Jon Jones from retiring after Miocic?

Since capturing the vacant heavyweight title with a quick two-minute submission victory over Ciryl Gane at UFC 285, ‘Bones’ is yet to defend the title. Originally, he was set to square off with consensus heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic in November, but a pectoral injury forced him out of the bout.

In the meantime, the UFC has crowned an interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, who captured the temporary title with a 69-second KO of Sergei Pavlovich at MSG.

Aspinall long lobbied for a heavyweight unification fight with Jon Jones, something that should be a given, but Jones has routinely dismissed the UK-based star, instead opting to fight Miocic later this year. Even once he settles business with the two-time champ, there’s no guarantee that ‘Bones’ would even move on to fight Aspinall as Jones has continued to tease retirement following his scrap with the Cleveland native.

“I think the Stipe fight will be plenty for me,” Jones told Fox Sports Australia in April. “I feel like I don’t have too much to prove after beating Stipe Miocic. I’ve been in the game for a long time. In fighter years, I’m an old guy. I’ve been training a long time and been in the game a long time. Got some small injuries.

“I just really want to be around. I want to be around for my family, be around for my kids. I want to be able to play with my kids, have a good head on my shoulders. … I could see it coming to an end really soon and I’m happy with that. I’m really proud of my career.”

Stephen A. Smith calls for fans to protest potential fight between Conor McGregor and Islam Makhachev

Stephen A. Smith believes Conor McGregor has “no business” being inside the Octagon with a grappler. Especially when that…

Stephen A. Smith believes Conor McGregor has “no business” being inside the Octagon with a grappler. Especially when that grappler’s name is Islam Makhachev.

On Saturday (June 1) the ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ successfully retained his lightweight world title, dispatching division fan favorite Dustin Poirier in the fifth round via submission, extending his unbeaten streak to 14 straight and further establishing himself as the No. 1 ranked pound-for-pound fighter in the world — even if Dana White doesn’t agree.

Being the protege of Octagon icon Khabib Nurmagomedov, Makhachev has a natural enemy in Conor McGregor. In the weeks leading up to UFC 302, both men have taken jabs at one another on social media and in interviews, with McGregor being especially nasty toward his former foe’s successor.

Their continued back-and-forth has only further fueled rumors that the two could end up going toe-to-toe inside the Octagon one day.

While that fight seems rather unlikely with both men on very different career trajectories, money talks, and the UFC is in the business of making money. And nobody makes more money than ‘Mystic Mac.’

Stephen A. Smith is confident makhachev would finish McGregor ‘inside of two rounds’

Joining host Molly Qerim on ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith was adamantly opposed to the idea of McGregor squaring off with Makhachev, claiming that it would be “the worst possible fight” for the Irish megastar.

“Conor McGregor has no business being in the Octagon against a grappler, which is what Makhachev… This brother right here is something special and he’s not going to try and strike against McGregor,” Smith said. “Just like he tried on numerous occasions to get [Dustin] Poirier to the ground [at UFC 302] before successfully doing so with that ankle wrap and ultimately getting him.

“That’s exactly what he’s going to do with McGregor. His whole objective is going to be about getting him to the ground. I think it’s the worst possible fight we could possibly want to see in the UFC. There’s is no purpose whatsoever.

“We should literally protest if they try to put [Islam] Makhachev in the Octagon against Conor McGregor because I believe that fight would be over inside of two rounds. He’ll get Conor to submit, it’s that simple. That’s not the fight we want to see. We want to see someone that’s going to try and knock Conor out and Conor try to knock them out. We don’t want to see a grappler inside the Octagon against Conor McGregor because chances are, it’s going to end soon.”

Stephen A Tackles Narrative That ESPN Is Shielding Dana White

Prominent ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith has addressed the indications that the network and its journalists are downplaying the significance of UFC President Dana White’s physical altercation with his wife. On New Year’s Eve, Dana White was captured on video slapping his wife, Anne, in retaliation to being struck by her inside a Cabo nightclub….

Continue Reading Stephen A Tackles Narrative That ESPN Is Shielding Dana White at MMA News.

Stephen A Tackles Narrative That ESPN Is Shielding Dana White

Continue Reading Stephen A Tackles Narrative That ESPN Is Shielding Dana White at MMA News.

Jemele Hill Slams Stephen A & ESPN For Coverage Of Dana White Incident

Former ESPN broadcaster Jemele Hill is not happy with how her former colleague Stephen A. Smith responded to the Dana White controversy. White remains in hot water after footage of him hitting his wife during an argument on New Year’s Eve went vi…

Continue Reading Jemele Hill Slams Stephen A & ESPN For Coverage Of Dana White Incident at MMA News.