“I’m well bored of [the Jones conversation]. I’ve had enough. We either need to fight, or I need to move on to something else,”. These were the exact words of Tom Aspinall in his conversation with the High Performance Podcast. The interim heavyweight champion has been chasing a fight with Jon Jones for quite some time. But so far, there’s been only radio silence from the reigning champ. To make matters worse, Jones’ recent move to sign on as a coach for an MMA reality show in Thailand came off to many as a slap in the face, almost mocking the seriousness of the situation.
Well, now former UFC champion Michael Bisping has also come forward and shared his honest opinion on the whole matter. ‘The Count’ took to his YouTube channel to discuss how Islam Makhachev is ready for his fight in the welterweight division next. However, the Dagestani champion, despite holding dreams of becoming a dual-division champion, vacated his lightweight division title.
Bisping feels this is the right way going forward, which allows the other fighters to fight for the belt, and the division does not get stuck. But this is not the case with the heavyweight division. The fight between Jones and Aspinall has not only hampered the division but also tested the patience of the fans.
Michael Bisping has always been a fan of the hard-hitting Brit and wants him to take on the greatest MMA fighter ever. While speaking on his show, the former champion didn’t quite mince his words for ‘Bones’. He said, “If you are the champion, you have an obligation to the sport, to the fans, and to everyone else in the division. To honor and defend that title or to move on.” While Aspinall and the fans might be losing their patience, UFC CEO Dana White is confident that the fight between the two will definitely happen.
“We’ll get Aspinall vs Jones done… the heavyweight fight will happen. Just relax,” said Dana White during his recent Instagram Live session. Ever since the dust settled at UFC 295, fans have been clamoring for a heavyweight title unification bout.
Yet, despite the mounting pressure, White has remained relatively quiet on the matter. Still, many believe the 55-year-old isn’t just sitting idle—there may very well be a calculated strategy unfolding behind the scenes. So, who really holds the advantage in the highly anticipated clash? Let’s see what Tom Aspinall has to say about it.
Tom Aspinall points out the biggest advantage Jon Jones holds in the fight
With a string of highlight-reel finishes and dominant performances, Tom Aspinall has quickly become one of the most talked-about names in the heavyweight division. What sets the English standout apart is his incredible speed. For someone of his size, he has the explosive power that very few fighters can match. Yet, despite all his physical gifts, Aspinall admits there’s one area where Jon Jones still holds the edge: experience. Jones has been competing at the highest level since 2008 and remains virtually untouched in terms of a clear-cut loss. Over the years, ‘Bones’ has faced—and beaten—multiple generations of top-tier opponents.
In contrast, while Tom Aspinall has had his share of main event appearances, none have come on the grand stage of a pay-per-view. Aspinall himself admits that his relative absence from the biggest spotlight might actually work in Jones’ favor if the two ever meet.
During his conversation on High Performance Podcast, Aspinall said, “Well, he’s got a lot more experience than I do. He knows how to stay in there. He’s fought guys similar to me before. He’s had this plenty like, massive fight experience, where I’ve only main evented the UFC like four or five times now. He’s done that for the last fifteen years,”. It’s certainly intriguing to speculate which edge—Jones’ experience or Aspinall’s athleticism—will make the difference when they finally clash.
But for now, it all remains talk, as an official date for the potential showdown has yet to be announced. Will the pair ever fight against each other? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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