Jon Jones has stayed unbeaten. The only loss in his career came due to an unfortunate disqualification at the end of a fight he had essentially won. This, of course, is one of the biggest reasons he is considered the GOAT of MMA. And one of his former opponents (who came close to handing the heavyweight champ a second DQ loss) knows exactly why.

Speaking to Michael Bisping on the latter’s YouTube channel, Anthony ‘Lionheart’ Smith revealed that along with his once-in-a-generation talent and brilliance in the octagon, one thing makes Jones much more dangerous than any of his compatriots. Incidentally, that is also why ‘Lionheart’ sees Stipe Miocic having little chance of beating Jones on UFC 309.

“He [Jones] obsesses over his opponents. It’s actually one of the biggest disadvantages in my opinion for Stipe for this fight being stretched out longer. Because it’s given Jon more time to think about it, more time to analyze it, more time to dig into him more, time to continue to watch the film over and over and over. Jon is obsessive… He used to like stalk his opponents’ Facebooks and he would like read through their everyday life. Like he almost wants to know who they are,” he said.

And indeed even Jones has confirmed Smith’s obsession in pretty explicit terms. “Victory is a result of the obsession”, Jones would once tell fans on Twitter, adding that “I am not talented. I am obsessed.” And that obsession, as ‘Lionheart’ pointed out is not as limited as just studying his opponents’ tapes but has more to do with who they are as a person and what makes them tick. Incidentally, this is also why Smith and Bisping think Jones will not fight Tom Aspinall, the backup fighter for his fight with Miocic, even if the former champ pulls out.

Smith feels Jon Jones will never agree to fight Aspinall on UFC 309 because of lack of time

Daniel Cormier has predicted that neither Miocic nor Jones would be willing to fight Aspinall if the other guy pulls out. While Smith, who is good friends with Miocic, felt that the former champ may well take on Aspinall on short notice. But not Jones. Why? Because a quick turnaround just wouldn’t give ‘Bones’ enough time to ‘obsessively’ study Aspinall the person and the fighter.

“That quick flip doesn’t give him enough time in his head to make it okay with him, like he doesn’t have enough time to adjust and to feel like he knows that person… He’s not comfortable with the matchup,” Smith told Bisping.

This, of course, means that there is no chance the most demanded matchup in the entire sport will ever happen. After all, Jones has all but announced he would be retiring after the Miocic fight. Despite the entire UFC world calling on ‘Bones’ to face interim champion Aspinall in a unification bout, accusing him of being ‘scared’ of Aspinall if he doesn’t. However, there is the possibility, albeit a slim one that Jones, after fighting Miocic in November, does eventually change his mind. After, of course, as inferred above, he has had ample time to obsess over Aspinall. What are your thoughts on Anthony Smith’s take on Jones’s obsessiveness? Provide your discretion in the comments below.