The UFC heavyweight division has been a scorching subject in MMA circles recently. Dana White is adamant about reserving present champ Jon Jones in opposition to Stipe Miocic in 2024. On the flip aspect, followers appear extra involved in seeing “Bones” tackle Tom Aspinall who defended his interim belt in opposition to Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 by way of first-round TKO.
Jones has but to defend his UFC heavyweight championship since beating Ciryl Gane for it in March 2023. A shoulder harm pressured him out of motion for nearly a 12 months, and the delay in his return has led to many opposing Miocic getting a title shot regardless of not combating in over three years.
Though there’s no assure that it’s going to occur, Frank Mir has picked Jones to beat Aspinall in the event that they ever struggle within the UFC…
Frank Mir Believes Jon Jones Has A 90% Likelihood Of Beating Tom Aspinall In The UFC Heavyweight Division
Mir mentioned a possible struggle between Jones and Aspinall on the talkSPORT MMA YouTube channel lately. He acknowledged that the English heavyweight is sort of expert however simply doesn’t see him beating the UFC mild heavyweight GOAT within the subsequent 12 months.
“Jon’s the GOAT of our sport proper now. I get that Tom, and I completely don’t blame him. I might do every thing if I used to be Tom Aspinall. I might do every thing I presumably might, perhaps present up at his home, get him pissed sufficient to take that struggle as a result of that might simply catapult his profession.”
The previous UFC heavyweight champ believes that Aspinall gained’t be capable to submit and even take down Jones because of the latter’s superior wrestling. He backed this declare by mentioning Jones’ two wins over Daniel Cormier, arguably among the best wrestlers to ever struggle within the UFC.
“If you happen to stated, put my cash down on it. In the event that they fought this 12 months or fought inside 12 months from now, from what I do know coaching with Jon, from what I’ve seen from Tom, I believe Jon has a few 70 to 80, 90% likelihood of successful the struggle.”
“If Tom closes distance, he’s by no means submitting Jon. And, Jon outwrestles him completely. They’d a take down contest, he can’t take Jon down one time, zero. Completely zero. Jon’s wrestling is unreal. If Jon had gone a special path in life, and perhaps had not downside in class, he would have completely been the Olympic world champion at wrestling, you realize. That’s simply the a part of me. He outwrestled Cormier, you realize what I imply? Cormier’s accolades in wrestling are by way of the roof.”
Mir added that Aspinall’s explosive and quick hanging, particularly for a heavyweight, could possibly be his solely strategy to victory in opposition to Jones. He remembered the likes of Vitor Belfort and Dominick Reyes who had success in opposition to “Bones” as a consequence of their pace benefit in hanging exchanges.
Curiously, former rival Quinton “Rampage” Jackson additionally favored Jones to win in opposition to Aspinall for related causes in a latest interview with Inside Preventing. The previous UFC mild heavyweight kingpin praised the interim UFC heavyweight champ’s expertise however doesn’t suppose it’ll be sufficient for him to unify the title in opposition to the present undisputed champion.
