Jon Jones is regarded not only for his brutal, relentless fighting style but also for his exceptional fight IQ. This strategic intelligence has been a cornerstone of his dominance throughout a decade-long MMA career, transcending weight divisions. Although Tom Aspinall has previously accused Jones of “ducking” a unification matchup, he recently took a different tone during an appearance on TNT Sports, where he offered an unexpected compliment to the undisputed kingpin.

Aspinall remarked during a TNT Sports appearance, “First of all when we talk about Jon Jones, his knowledge in MMA is among the best to ever do it, you know what I mean? I’ve got to give him that. What he generally does with his style is impressive. He’s very long—six-foot-four.” Aspinall further praised Jones for maximizing his reach advantage, noting that, despite not being exceptionally tall for a heavyweight, Jones “fights in a way that leverages his reach, staying out there and doing a lot of unorthodox stuff.”, the interim king added.

Despite Tom Aspinall not securing a unification title fight against Jon Jones, he has been named the backup fighter for the upcoming

UFC 309 main event. In what’s rumored to be Jones’s final MMA fight, he’s set to defend his heavyweight title against two-time division champion Stipe Miocic. This means that the Brit’s path to becoming the heavyweight champion may still face delay, as Jones recently dismissed the idea of fighting Aspinall in an interview.

Jon Jones stands firm on not fighting Tom Aspinall

Jon Jones has made it clear he has no intention of facing Tom Aspinall in a title unification fight. The Englishman, who has been waiting since his victory over Sergei Pavlovich last year, hopes to secure a shot at the title, as it is customary for an interim champion to challenge the reigning champion. Despite facing criticism from all directions, Jones remains resolute, standing firm in his decision not to fight Aspinall.

Now, with his highly anticipated heavyweight title defense against Stipe Miocic just a week away, Jones is seen as the favorite by oddsmakers and analysts. Yet, in a recent interview with the NY Post, he expressed no interest in a bout with Aspinall, stating, “Really, nothing. I find him annoying… I’ve been here for so long, and he just got to the UFC not too long ago. If he wanted to fight me, he could’ve been here. Where have you been all this time? At the end of the day, he has no real standout legacy. I think the only guy he beat was Andrei Arlovski—and Andrei was very old at the time. He really has nothing that entices me. Nothing.”

What’s your take on Tom Aspinall’s sudden change of heart towards Jon Jones? Do you think it’s sincere, with Aspinall genuinely acknowledging the champion’s greatness, or is this just the start of a strategic mind game from Aspinall? Drop your opinion below.