Opinion: Jon Jones’ Outburst at Tom Aspinall Shows HW Champ’s Desperate Attempt to Cling on to GOAT Status

You might love him or hate him, but you cannot deny Jon Jones’ excellence in the UFC Octagon. The current UFC heavyweight champion has been one of the most dominant fighters in the history of the sport. With phenomenal title defenses and a near-perfect record, Jones has reserved a spot on the list of MMA’s greatest ever.

However, things have not been perfect for the American fighter. Jones was going to fight Stipe Miocic at UFC 295, but the fight fell through due to an injury. Now, ‘Bones’ needs numerous months to recover before he can defend his belt. In this situation, many fans are questioning his status as the UFC heavyweight title.

Tom Aspinall wins the interim title as Jon Jones sustains injury

Merely days before the UFC 295 PPV, news about Jones’ injury broke the internet. Apparently, the Rochester-born MMA star suffered a tear in his pectoral muscle during training. Further, this instance was captured on camera as well!

Shortly afterward, UFC CEO Dana White announced the replacement for Jones vs. Miocic. Top heavyweight contenders Tom Aspinall and Sergei Pavlovich faced each other for the interim UFC heavyweight title. In the grand event, Aspinall knocked his opponent out to win the interim title.

Usually, when an interim champion is crowned, the undisputed champion must face him in his return fight. However, this might not happen in this case. Dana White has announced that Jones will still face Miocic for the UFC heavyweight title while the interim champ, Aspinall, sits out.

Doubts on Jones’ GOAT status: Dominick Reyes fight, inactivity, & suspension

While many consider Jon Jones the UFC GOAT, several others stand against this idea. In a sport like MMA, where countless factors determine a fighter’s success, deciding the ‘Greatest Of All Time’ can be difficult. Further, there have been some instances in Jones’ career that do not work in his favor in the GOAT debate.

For instance, ‘Bones’ faced Dominick Reyes in his last fight as a UFC light heavyweight at UFC 247. Although he won via a unanimous decision, some fans still question the decision of the judges. Next, he went on a hiatus and remained inactive for over 3 years.

Upon returning, the 36-year-old was presented with a UFC heavyweight title opportunity. He won the belt by defeating Ciryl Gane, but many fans do not consider that fight to be Jones’ true test at heavyweight. Moreover, his constant problems with the UFC over PED usage have also affected his GOAT status!

Jon Jones’s recent comments: Self-proclaimed GOAT?

Recently, interim champion Tom Asinall raised doubts about the UFC’s decision not to strip Jon Jones of his title. Shortly afterward, Jones fired back with a tweet. “I’ve faced the absolute toughest competition this world had to offer for 15 years now,” he wrote.

“During camp for a title defense I sustained a major injury that required surgery for the first time in my career. Now I have newcomers requesting I get my championship stripped,” he added, justifying his status as a champion.

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Fans had a polarizing response after reading Jones’ statement. While some agreed with him, others found his tweet to be overly assertive.

Should Jon Jones be stripped of his HW title?

One of the most talked-about UFC things of recent times is Jon Jones’ status as the heavyweight champion. The 36-year-old was probably going to fight for the last time at UFC 295 against Miocic. But still, after his injury, the UFC did not strip him of his title. In recent times, multiple champions like Jamahal Hill and Jiri Prochazka have vacated their titles because of injuries.

Moreover, the organization’s decision to create an interim title is also criticized. Aspinall, who is now the interim heavyweight champ, might have to sit idle for more than a year! If Jones vs. Miocic happens in the middle of 2024, the winner will probably take months to fight Aspinall in a title unification bout.

In an equally possible scenario, both Jones and Miocic might retire, irrespective of the result of their fight. In such a situation, the interim champ would be left without a fight! To avoid this tricky situation, the UFC could have just stripped Jones of his title and given him another title shot upon his return! What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments below.

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