UFC Champ Jon Jones Claps Back at Tom Aspinall in Fiery Rant
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has issued a stream of fiery messages to his heavyweight rival Tom Aspinall. The two heavyweights have been having a virtual spat on X.
Aspinall, the current interim heavyweight champion, instigated a debate about how he should be next in line to face Jones, which Jones took as an insult. "Bones" besmirched Aspinall's resume, remarking that there would be "legendary tales" about his "infamous callouts."
Jones later extended his tirade in a slew of new posts on X, calling Aspinall a hypocrite in the process:
"Tom, you talking about someone's ego running wild is one of the most hypocritical things ever," Jones remarked. "You literally haven't kept my balls out of your mouth since you won that imaginary championship. It’s funny that you actually walk around feeling like the world champion. Especially when the actual champion is undefeated... Literally didn’t get hit my last fight.
"My stipe fight was booked well before yours came along, you weren’t even the back up fighter.. Trust me you’re the one who is coming around here with the inflated ego and entitlement. That interim championship means absolutely nothing... All your fight did at Madison Square Garden was confuse the fans... The UFC, Stipe and I have unfinished business, it’s really just that simple."
"Bones" almost alluded to a planned retirement after fighting Miocic, before clarifying that wasn't what he meant in another message:
"What I refuse to do is be like a lot of these other fighters who stuck around too long... Ive set myself up pretty well in life. I want Stipe for my résumé, outside of that, I need nothing else from this sport. I came, I saw, and I conquered. Facts.
"I’m not saying that [I'm retiring], what I am saying is, coming back from two different surgeries, and defeating Stipe is my primary goal, and a huge feat if you ask me... Despite how good Tom may seem right now, a win over him really does nothing for my legacy."
In response to the rant, Aspinall told Jones to "forget all the other stuff about titles and resume," remarking that he believes he can beat Jones in a fight, and if Jones doesn't want it, he'll stop chasing him.
Jones replied, "Brilliant response mate."
The debate may be over for now, but Aspinall's prodding may have inched him closer to a potential booking with Jones. Many fight fans and pundits would rather see the Jones face Aspinall over Miocic, for the reason of him being active and holding the interim title.
It's a more intriguing fight given Aspinall's surge in popularity and Jones' unblemished resume. Fight fans will just have to wait and see if the UFC wants to make the fight happen.
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