Why Jon Jones would reasonably struggle Alex Pereira than Tom Aspinall

UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is aware of Tom Aspinall holds a bit of the division’s title, however isn’t thinking about a unification bout.

Jones (27-1 MMA, 21-1 UFC) returns to motion Nov. 16 to face Stipe Miocic in the primary occasion of UFC 309 at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York. It might be the final struggle for “Bones” as he has teased a possible retirement.

At 37, with a bonafide Corridor of Fame legacy Jones has created as a two-division UFC champion, stepping away from the game if he defeats Miocic (20-4 MMA, 14-4 UFC), who many view as one of the best heavyweight champion of all time, can be comprehensible.

If Jones continues to struggle, a title unification bout in opposition to present interim heavyweight champion Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) seems to be the general public’s standard want. Nonetheless, Jones doesn’t share the identical need to make that struggle occur.

“Greater than doubtless not,” Jones instructed Kevin Iole when requested if he would struggle Aspinall after UFC 309. “I really feel like Tom Aspinall is, I don’t need to say no one, however he simply hasn’t confirmed something. He hasn’t completed something. I perceive he gained his belt in opposition to Sergei, and Sergei simply acquired slaughtered by another person, so it’s like, I’m not right here to gamble another person making a reputation off of me.”

Aspinall turned the interim heavyweight champion by beating Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295, the unique date for Jones to face Miocic earlier than his pectoral harm. The UFC created an interim title in Jones’ absence, which Aspinall claimed with a first-round knockout.

Aspinall solely has one loss within the UFC, which got here as a consequence of harm 15 seconds into his first assembly with Curtis Blaydes. In a rematch at UFC 304, Aspinall recorded a uncommon interim title protection by stopping Blaydes with punches within the opening spherical.

He’s completed each opponent within the UFC, solely reaching the second spherical as soon as. Regardless of Aspinall’s feats within the heavyweight division, Jones stays unimpressed.

“I’m right here to compete in opposition to the blokes the place once we look again, you recognize, 10 years from now, you’ll be like, ‘Jon Jones fought this man and that man, this legend, and that champion and this champion,’” Jones stated.

If Jones continues his profession after UFC 309, just one fighter on the roster piques his curiosity.

“If there have been to be a struggle of a man that’s nonetheless on our UFC roster that will be not solely financially price it, however legacy price it, it might be Alex Pereira,” Jones stated. “We’re each 37 years previous. Proper now, I weigh about 235. I’m an extremely gentle heavyweight. I feel Pereira walks round at 240. I feel that struggle would go a lot farther on my legacy than a younger man who’s cool as we speak, and could also be gone tomorrow.

“I bear in mind a time when the entire world thought Johnny Walker was going to be the man to beat me. No disrespect to Johnny Walker, however all of us seen how his profession has performed out. I’ve simply been right here too lengthy to get all enthusiastic about somebody who’s scorching as we speak. I’m right here for legacy. I’ve been playing manner too lengthy simply to take random fights.”