Jon Jones has mocked Tom Aspinall following the British fighter’s decision to relinquish the UFC heavyweight title, over a year after Jones himself vacated the belt to avoid a bout with Aspinall. Aspinall stepped down on Monday due to persistent issues related to an eye injury, which he sustained from multiple eye pokes by Ciryl Gane last September during Gane’s title challenge.
This fight marked Aspinall’s first defense of the undisputed championship after he was promoted from interim champion when Jones vacated the regular title the previous July, simultaneously announcing his retirement. At 39, Jones only gave up the belt after a prolonged period during which he refused both to surrender the title and to fight Aspinall, despite Aspinall holding the interim crown for a full year. Jones even admitted to turning down a $30 million offer to face Aspinall.
Jones appeared to take some pleasure in Aspinall’s forced exit from the heavyweight throne. Responding on X (formerly Twitter) to a fan who suggested Aspinall’s injury might not have been as serious as claimed and accused him of avoiding a rematch with Gane, Jones wrote, “My sentiments exactly.” He then agreed with another user’s criticism of Aspinall, who claimed the British fighter never deserved the undisputed title, was hesitant to face Gane again, and was blaming his setbacks on the Frenchman’s fouls. Jones added, “Dude you are on fire,” in response to these comments.
However, many fans disagreed with Jones’s stance. Critics pointed out Aspinall’s impressive victories over fighters like Curtis Blaydes, Alexander Volkov, Sergei Pavlovich, and Serghei Spivac, arguing he is a much stronger heavyweight than Jones implied. Others highlighted Jones’s history of using eye pokes in fights and his past failed drug tests and legal issues, contrasting this with Aspinall’s genuine injury struggles.
Despite skepticism from some quarters, Aspinall underwent multiple eye surgeries attempting to regain normal vision but unfortunately re-injured the eye during training this summer. This setback came after he had committed to a comeback fight, a likely rematch with Gane, who claimed the interim title in June.
Fan Take: This saga underscores the brutal physical toll and mental challenges fighters face behind the scenes, reminding fans that championship glory often comes with significant sacrifices. Aspinall’s withdrawal reshapes the heavyweight division’s landscape, potentially opening the door for new contenders and rivalries, while Jones’s provocations keep the drama alive in MMA’s ever-evolving narrative.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
