Certainly one of Jon Jones’ biggest foes doesn’t wish to see him take a probability on Tom Aspinall.
Coming up on 17 years, UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones is nearing the tip of his illustrious run within the Octagon together 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’s, 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 ponder whether Jones will accept the challenge from the younger, hungrier champion.
Vitor Belfort hopes Jon Jones retires ‘undefeated’
Jones the apparent 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 have to prove nothing to nobody,” Belfort said of Jones in an interview with Helen Yee.
“He’s at all times someone who desires to prove [I can beat this guy].
“I would love to see him to walk away the way in which he’s. 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 together with his only loss in 30 pro fights a disqualification to Matt Hamill in 2009 for illegal 12-6 elbows (which are actually legal under the brand new unified rules).
Vitor Belfort says ‘prime’ Tom Aspinall too dangerous for Jon Jones
Only a few fighters have come close to actually beating Jon Jones… Dominick Reyes, Alexander Gustafsson, Thiago Santos in controversial decisions and naturally, Vitor Belfort who nearly submitted ‘Bones’ with an armbar of 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 sunshine heavyweights up to now, Vitor Belfort is apprehensive his former rival has finally met his match with the long run of the heavyweight division.
The #1-ranked Aspinall is sort of 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 within the UFC today.
Aspinall has the shortest average fight time at 2:02.
“Aspinall’s a risk fight for him,” Belfort said.
“Aspinall could be great to see, but, I mean, that guy is simply 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 feel you probably did every part you could possibly,” Belfort said of Jon Jones’ UFC legacy.
With or without Tom Aspinall, Jon Jones has already cemented himself as the best, if not one in every of the best fighters of all time.
