As we get closer to the return of Jon Jones and UFC 309, controversy follows in its wake. When it was announced that the title card would see Jon Jones fight 42-year-old Stipe Miocic, the backlash was instantly strong – the ducking of Tom Aspinall is becoming a bigger story than the main event itself.
Now, this article is in no way questioning the career Jon Jones has had, although controversial, his peak was one of the best a fighter has ever had in the UFC. But, his career itself has been fairly shaky, with stories of abuse and failed drug tests holding him back from being as respected as he once was.
The Main Event of UFC 309
The fight itself is one that a lot of fans have been waiting for, but the timing is all off. Both fighters have been out of the game for a combined five years, with Miocic taking up three of those, this is the biggest concern for everyone.
Miocic’s last fight was against Francis Ngannou in 2021 where he was brutally knocked out in the second round. So, the question on everyone's mind here is, why is this fight even happening? The obvious answer to this question is Dana White.
It is no secret that White loves Jones and despite doing things that would ruin the reputation and career of other fighters, White has a soft spot for Jones and will always want him to fight.
UFC’s sponsor Stake, which offers sports betting and is one of the leading online casinos in the UK has their odds for Jones to beat Miocic at -200, this shows how far and ahead Jones is as a favorite and adds another layer as to why this fight isn't the one the fans want.
Why Aspinall?
As of right now, Tom Aspinall is the interim heavyweight champion and the fighter who would be reserved as the backup if either Miocic or Jones couldn't fight. After Aspinall’s nasty fight, he respectfully called out Jones and said “I just think I’m better than you.”
As the interim champ, Aspinall wants to unify the two heavyweight belts and has asked to do this on multiple occasions. But Jones appears to be scared of taking on Aspinall.
It's clear that Aspinall doesn't have the resumé that Jones has, but he is a younger fighter and his fans would certainly enjoy seeing him get the chance to unify the belts. To put it plainly, Jones Vs Aspinall makes a lot more sense than Jones Vs Miocic.
Not only is it a closer fight than Jones Vs Miocic, but it is also more of a draw. The UFC is a business and the fight that fans are clearly clamoring for is the one between the British Aspinall and the American Jones.
Why Is Jones Not Fighting Aspinall?
In pressers and interviews, Jones has been giving his reasonings with not a single one being especially believable. His main reason was Aspinall’s resumé. However, Aspinall can only fight who is put in front of him and if he asks for the fight with Jones, he is clearly confident in his ability to beat him.
His other argument was that Aspinall was an “a**hole”; this is his weakest point by a landslide. Every UFC fan's argument back to Jones brings up all of his past controversies, whether it's his car scandal, his abuse, his drug use or his fighting style which is known for having a lot of eye pokes. He isn't exactly a squeaky clean guy himself and we have discussed the way Aspinall called him out: with no ill intent, no harm and pure respect for Jones.
It is clear that Jones suspects Aspinall would beat him, and doesn't want to lose. Aspinall has said himself that Jones picks fights where he has the advantage – and Aspinall does not offer him this security.
