Jon Jones is broadly thought of one of many biggest fighters within the historical past of fight sports activities, however his legacy gained’t abruptly come into query if he retires earlier than dealing with off with interim UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall.
That’s in response to Matt Brown, who has lengthy argued that Jones earned the precise to name his shot after spending the higher a part of the previous 16 years operating roughshod over anyone and everyone UFC threw at him. Jones is at the moment getting ready for a showdown towards Stipe Miocic, with all indicators pointing towards a November date at UFC 309 in New York.
In the meantime, Aspinall has ratcheted up his makes an attempt to lure Jones right into a combat as a substitute after capturing the interim heavyweight title in 2023 after which defending it with a knockout of Curtis Blaydes. In fact, Brown understands Aspinall’s need for that combat, however he believes the narrative that Jones is someway avoiding Aspinall gained’t final lengthy sufficient to actually matter.
“The actual fact is, it is going to be forgotten,” Brown stated on The Fighter vs. The Author. “It doesn’t matter what Tom does. If Jon retires after he beats Stipe, we’re within the age of reports is information for a day. Possibly for a day or two, there might be some individuals on Reddit saying Jon was terrified of Tom or no matter.
“By subsequent week or no matter … he’ll nonetheless be the best ever. Nobody’s going to be like, ‘Oh, Jon’s not the best ever as a result of he didn’t combat Tom Aspinall.’ I don’t assume a single particular person’s going to say that. They’re simply going to speak a bit of little bit of foolish stuff for a few days and it is going to be fully forgotten. Similar to [Georges St-Pierre].”
Whereas not precisely the identical state of affairs, St-Pierre returned from an extended hiatus and beat Michael Bisping to turn into undisputed UFC middleweight champion again in 2017. There have been fast expectations that St-Pierre would then transfer on to combat interim champion Robert Whittaker, who sat dormant upon profitable his title a number of months earlier.
As an alternative, simply 34 days after beating Bisping, St-Pierre relinquished the title as a result of well being points and by no means returned to compete once more. Even coping with a truncated timeline in comparison with Jones, who has been out of motion for over a yr as a result of a torn pectoral muscle, St-Pierre was by no means referred to as coward as a result of he didn’t get to unify the belts in a combat towards Whittaker.
“Subsequent week, it was all forgotten,” Brown stated. “I didn’t even do not forget that he turned all the way down to combat Robert Whittaker. I didn’t even do not forget that being talked about on the time. I used to be deep within the sport at that time.
“It’s simply a type of issues the place everyone likes to put their very own little opinions on issues for a day or two, and it’s forgotten concerning the subsequent day.”
Aspinall can definitely preserve pushing for the Jones combat to occur, and that solely raises his profile as he continues to name himself the true UFC heavyweight champion. Aspinall might actually have a legitimate argument that he’s already the very best heavyweight on the UFC roster, however Brown is aware of that by no means appeared like a purpose Jones was chasing anyway.
“Appropriate me if I’m unsuitable, however I don’t bear in mind Jon ever saying, ‘I’m out right here now to attempt to be the best heavyweight,’” Brown stated. “He’s like, ‘I’m the best fighter, I bought that within the bag. I’m the best fighter of all-time. I’m going to combat a pair heavyweight fights. Yeah, I may be a bit of bit choosy about who I combat. I’m the best fighter of all-time, bitch. I get to select my fights now.’
“I don’t bear in mind him ever saying, ‘I’m out right here to aim to show I will also be the best heavyweight.’ He’s like, ‘No, I’m transferring as much as get a pair paydays, getting some massive fights, having some enjoyable, not have to chop weight, and transfer on with my life.’”
Whether or not Jones dismantles Miocic in November or not, Brown admits his opinion of the previous mild heavyweight champion gained’t actually change.
There are different explanation why Jones might have tainted his legacy via previous actions, however Brown expects that Aspinall is finally nothing greater than a small blip on the radar and a distraction that gained’t final eternally.
“He’s the best,” Brown stated of Jones. “The one debate about whether or not he’s the best or not is while you speak concerning the banned substances. That’s actually the one argument you will have towards it. I don’t assume there’s another argument. Everyone knows Jon is the best of all-time.”
