“Jon is a master manipulator, and he’s a master at the mind games that are behind this sport,” Anthony Smith stated during a recent UFC Live show. Jon Jones has long been known for getting under his opponents’ skin with more than just trash talk. Many believe he’s playing the same game with Tom Aspinall, and that the delayed fight is just part of the strategy. Adding fuel to the fire, the heavyweight champ has also been dropping subtle jabs online, teasing a grand return and throwing shade at his potential challenger. So, the Brit clapped back in the same style.
During his trip to Thailand, Jon Jones had already hinted on X that he’d shared his plans with the UFC, though fans are still in the dark about what those are. Not long after, his conversation with Russian MMA promoter Kamil Gadzhiev stirred the pot once again. When Gadzhiev claimed the heavyweight champ had ten more years in him, Jones bluntly replied, “No, I’m done,” reigniting retirement speculation. But then came a twist, from the popular X account Championship Rounds showing an alpha dog disciplining the pack, with Jones’s caption: “What I feel like returning to the UFC after some much-needed downtime.”
The MMA world quickly started putting two and two together, suspecting that the cryptic alpha dog tweet was aimed at Tom Aspinall, subtly suggesting that Jones might return to discipline the interim champ just like the dog did in the clip. But that wasn’t all. ‘Bones’ added more fuel to the fire by replying to another fan on X who asked about his retirement. “I don’t know if I wanna call it retired. I feel like I’ll always have an ability to pop out and show ’em.”
Meanwhile, Tom Aspinall has already made it clear he’s not happy about the Jones fight being up in the air. But with Jon’s latest cryptic post possibly hinting that the heavyweight clash is still on the table, the British juggernaut decided to respond in his own subtle way. In an Instagram story, Aspinall was seen calmly playing with a German Shepherd, possibly a direct response to Jones’ alpha dog post. The message? It’s clear! The interim champ wanted to imply he’s the one who can tame the beast, the real master in this game.
Tom Aspinall during UFC Fight Night: London at the O2, London, England on the 22 July 2023. Copyright: xAndyxRowlandx PMI-5650-0018
Aspinall hasn’t taken things lightly, and these back-and-forth cryptic exchanges with Jon Jones might have just solidified the chances of the long-awaited superfight. While nothing’s official yet, UFC President Dana White has already hinted at it. During his UFC 317 live stream, he confirmed the heavyweight clash will happen, and in a roadside interview with MMA Pros Pick, he even mentioned that 2025 is the year it’s expected to go down. So for now, all we fans can do is wait and hope.
However, amid all the growing anticipation, the tension between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall might be heating up more than expected. Some of Aspinall’s recent words may have struck a nerve with the current heavyweight champion. Let’s take a look at that!
Jon Jones lashes out at Tom Aspinall after Brit’s recent comments about him
Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall was already a highly anticipated spectacle among fans. However, the hype stalled and grew stagnant as developments slowed down, directly impacting the excitement around the fight. But now, things are starting to heat up again, with the rivalry progressing into a more intense and personal animosity, bringing new energy and urgency back to this showdown.
Recently, Tom Aspinall appeared on the Mightycast podcast with Demetrious Johnson, where the topic of a potential showdown with Jon Jones came up. Aspinall opened up about how the prolonged delay has been affecting his motivation. He stated, “I’ve been inactive for a year, and I’m just being told to wait. I don’t care about fighting Jones, I just want to be the undisputed champion”. That comment seemed to strike a nerve with the reigning champ. According to an Instagram post by Verdict MMA, Jon Jones fired back with a sharp response: “Shut your mouth, and do as you’re told.”
The reigning heavyweight kingpin’s clapback, “You’ll do as you’re told”, was looked to be inspired by Conor McGregor during his TUF Season 31 stint with Michael Chandler. While Aspinall has taken jabs at Jones in the past, none have sparked a reaction quite as sharp as this. It’s clear something has shifted. The air is getting warmer as November creeps closer, the month many believe could finally host this long-awaited heavyweight collision.
With that being said, do you think that as the animosity grows between two of the most dangerous fighters on the planet, the chances of this heavyweight superfight actually happening become more realistic? Let us know what you think by dropping a comment below!
The post Tom Aspinall Fires Cryptic Dig at Jon Jones for Ordering Interim Champ to Stick to Superfight appeared first on EssentiallySports.
