Jon Jones has established himself as one of the best fighters in MMA history, but when it comes to facing the most difficult obstacles, Tom Aspinall believes the heavyweight champion has played a different game. For more than a year, the Briton has been pursuing a title unification fight, only to be met with silence and delays. And it’s not just him: Francis Ngannou, the former heavyweight champion, waited years for a match that never took place. As a result, Tom Aspinall has finally stated it clearly: Jones is conning the public, avoiding the most difficult fights while maintaining his reputation.
Aspinall spoke bluntly about ‘Bones’ and his ‘conning’ on the Impaulsive podcast. When asked whether the reigning UFC heavyweight champion is scared of fighting him, he answered, “Yes, (he is terrified to fight me).” Aspinall continued, “The thing with Jon, Jon is conning the public, man. I’m not disputing that he’s an amazing fighter. But the fact that he didn’t want to fight Ngannou for three years, and now he’s not wanting to fight me for over a year… The way he manipulates the media and the public is super smart. I’m not taking anything away from him. But do I think he’s super scared to take the tough fights at this stage in his career? Absolutely.” It’s a harsh opinion, but one that many in the MMA community have been speculating about for years.
In all honesty, Tom Aspinall’s frustration is reasonable. He has been the interim heavyweight champion since November 2023, awaiting a bout that UFC CEO Dana White says is “all but done.” Jones, however, has remained on the sidelines, reported to be holding out for a record-breaking payout of $50 million. Meanwhile, the Briton has been relentless, flying to New York to track ‘Bones’ down, going on a media tour, and even mocking him at UFC London with a rubber duck, signifying what he says is obvious avoidance. The message is simple: Aspinall is prepared, but Jon Jones does not want to fight.
@mikemajlak: “Is Jon Jones scared to fight you?”
Tom Aspinall: “Yes, absolutely… Jon is conning the public… The fact that he didn’t wanna fight Ngannou for three years and now he’s not wanting to fight me for over a year.”
@impaulsive pic.twitter.com/AUxVz5kUat
— MMA Orbit (@mma_orbit) March 25, 2025
Of course, Jones’ fans claim that his legacy is already established and that he has nothing more to prove. However, Tom Aspinall believes that it is more than simply about legacy; it is about competing with the greatest. When asked directly if he understood why Jones may avoid the fight, his response was telling. “Absolutely, I can. I respect it. But if you are going to ask me the straight-up question, is Jon Jones scared to fight me? The honest answer would be yes.” But while Tom Aspinall opened up on why Jon Jones is afraid of fighting him, on the same podcast episode, he revealed that he too once was a chicken who was too afraid to raise his fist. So, how did he get over it?
Tom Aspinall reveals how a UFC legend helped him get over a major fear
For all of his confidence today, Tom Aspinall wasn’t always the one chasing down Jon Jones with a duck and calling him out on podcasts. In truth, the current version of himself—the collected, deadly heavyweight with a calm demeanor—is the result of years of interior work. On the same Impaulsive episode where he accused Jones of avoiding him, Aspinall discussed a totally different battle: fear. He acknowledged that before bouts, he was frightened not only of being wounded but also of failing, of not being his best self. So, how did he get over it?
Well, UFC legend Georges St-Pierre was essential in changing his perspective, not through one-on-one coaching, but by setting a good example. Aspinall described GSP as someone who didn’t pretend to be fearless but instead stepped into a fire knowing precisely how terrified he was. That honesty, that startling sincerity, spoke powerfully to the Brit. “He’s like, ‘Yeah, I’m scared. But I’m going to go over and kick your ass anyway’,” Aspinall said. It wasn’t about pretending to be a ruthless fighter; it was about admitting your anxiety and still coming up. For the Briton, that became the blueprint.
He began watching GSP’s interviews, analyzing his openness and gradually realized he didn’t need to repress his feelings to be a champion. The interim champion merely needed to understand them. That move improved not only his fighting skills but also his quality of life. Aspinall admits that he still gets terrified before each fight. That has not changed. But what has changed is the way he uses it. Fear, to him, is fuel. It means the fight matters. It means he is present. “I feel like when you are open with that and you embrace it, it gives you a whole superpower in itself,” he stated. So, whether Jon Jones or someone else stands across the cage, Tom Aspinall isn’t going in as a fearless war machine. He’s afraid to walk in, but he is walking in anyway. And this makes him more dangerous. What do you think? Do you believe Jon Jones is ducking Tom Aspinall? Let us know in the comments.
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