One of Jon Jones’ greatest foes doesn’t want to see him take a chance on Tom Aspinall.
Coming up on 17 years, UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is nearing the end of his illustrious run in the Octagon with his ‘swan song’ yet to be sung.
Jones locked in his first heavyweight title defense last November at UFC 309 where he sent former champion Stipe Miocic into retirement with a spinning back kick to the body.
Jones could soon join Miocic in retirement, that is, if he doesn’t unify the title against interim champion Tom Aspinall first.
Fans have been clamoring for the heavyweight super-fight between Jones and Aspinall for well over 500 days now, leaving many to wonder whether Jones will accept the challenge from the younger, hungrier champion.
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Vitor Belfort hopes Jon Jones retires ‘undefeated’
Jones the obvious A-side with all of his accolades, former UFC Champion Vitor Belfort advises his former rival to walk away from Aspinall while he still can.
“He doesn’t need to prove nothing to no one,” Belfort said of Jones in an interview with Helen Yee.
“He’s always someone who wants to prove [I can beat this guy].
“I would like to see him to walk away the way he is. I don’t wanna see him losing the fight. Some people wanna see him losing the fight. I wanna see Jon walk away undefeated.”
Technically, Jones isn’t undefeated with his only loss in 30 pro fights a disqualification to Matt Hamill in 2009 for illegal 12-6 elbows (which are now legal under the new unified rules).
Vitor Belfort says ‘prime’ Tom Aspinall too risky for Jon Jones
Very few fighters have come close to really beating Jon Jones… Dominick Reyes, Alexander Gustafsson, Thiago Santos in controversial decisions and of course, Vitor Belfort who nearly submitted ‘Bones’ with an armbar in their fight at UFC 152 in 2012.
His arm hyperextended, Jones refused to tap before he eventually found his way out and later submitted Belfort himself with a keylock.
While Jones has cleared generations of light heavyweights in the past, Vitor Belfort is worried his former rival has finally met his match with the future of the heavyweight division.
The #1-ranked Aspinall is almost six years younger than Jones, carrying explosive KO power and speed which has left many contenders unconscious on the canvas. Aspinall has 100% takedown defense and takedown accuracy and averages 8.07 strikes per minute, the second-highest rate in the UFC today.
Aspinall has the shortest average fight time at 2:02.
“Aspinall’s a risk fight for him,” Belfort said.
“Aspinall would be great to see, but, I mean, that guy is too young. He’s in his prime. It’s a risk fight for him. I don’t recommend that fight for him.
“I just wanna see [Jones] do some fun fights. I think you did everything you could,” Belfort said of Jon Jones’ UFC legacy.
With or without Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones has already cemented himself as the greatest, if not one of the greatest fighters of all time.
