Combat sports thrive on two things—violence and legacy. Fighters spend years carving their names into history, but even the greatest aren’t safe from scrutiny. Jon Jones, despite holding an undefeated UFC record and dominating multiple generations, remains at the center of an unrelenting debate. Is he truly the greatest, or is he avoiding his biggest test? Critics claim he’s ducking Tom Aspinall, the surging interim champion whose speed and power have reshaped the heavyweight conversation.

The demand for Jones vs. Aspinall has reached a fever pitch, and yet, Jones seems to be doing everything in his power to delay title unification bout, calling out Alex Pereira and whatnot. The pushback has been relentless, with fans accusing him of handpicking fights over proving himself against the new blood. It’s a cycle that never stops. Fighters who reach the top are never truly allowed to stay there. Even outside the cage, Jones’ name continues to be thrown into battle—this time, through his latest venture as a part-owner of Dirty Boxing Championship.

But instead of just discussing business, one of the company’s biggest names, Mike Perry, seized the moment to take on Jones’ doubters head-on. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Perry defended Jones against critics who claim he’s dodging the toughest fight available. But in doing so, he dragged an unlikely name into the debate—Mike Tyson. “Yes, Jonny Bones has jumped in as an owner, and we’re grateful to have him,” Perry said when asked about Jones’ role in Dirty Boxing. But the conversation quickly turned from business to the unfair standards legends are held to.

“They talked so much s*** when Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson happened, it wouldn’t matter if he was 60,” Perry continued. “For Jon Jones, he could be 50, and fans would still say, ‘Fight Tom Aspinall.’ And I think Jon will do it. Or would do it.” The comparison was clear. The same fight community that ridicules Tyson for stepping into the ring at 58 is demanding that Jones—still in his prime—chase down the scariest heavyweight alive. Perry wasn’t just defending Jones. He was pointing out the never-ending expectations placed on combat sports icons.

Could Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall actually happen?

Of course, the biggest debate around Jones isn’t about his past—it’s about his future. The calls for him to face Aspinall are growing louder, and Jones is in mystery mode, dropping updates and hints like wanting six months to prepare for Aspinall. Perry acknowledged the threat Aspinall poses, calling him a true challenge for Jones but also refused to count the champion out.

“It is a tough fight, and only Jon knows how he can win that fight. With Tom Aspinall’s size and his explosiveness and speed in the heavyweight division—if someone can do it, Jon can do it.”, Perry said. Aspinall, meanwhile, has bulldozed through the division, combining lightning-fast striking with powerful grappling. The fight makes sense on paper, but as Perry pointed out, even if Jones takes it—and wins—the goalposts will just shift again.

“To take everything away from Jon because they want to see every fighter lose at some point is deeply unfair,” Perry said. “They talk s*** about Jon and Khabib, but their records are unblemished.” Perry’s argument speaks to a larger trend in combat sports. Fans never stop asking for more, even when fighters have nothing left to prove. The scrutiny around Jones is just the latest example of a pattern that repeats itself across generations.

Whether Jones fights Aspinall next or sticks to his original plan with a second Miocic matchup, the debate won’t end here. And if Perry is right, even if Jones wipes out every last contender, someone, somewhere, will still be asking—what’s next?