UFC legend Matt Brown disagrees with the strong criticism suggesting Jon Jones retired specifically to avoid facing Tom Aspinall.
Based on his own long experience in the fight game, Brown believes that controversies surrounding a fighter`s career are typically forgotten over time. He expects this to be the case with Jones` legacy, predicting that despite the current debate about the Aspinall fight, Jones` vast accomplishments will ensure he is still remembered as one of the greatest.
Brown stated on “The Fighter vs. The Writer” podcast that Jones is intelligent enough to know the current narrative will fade within a couple of years. “The division’s going to move on, the UFC’s going to move on and we’re going to forget there was this seven-month stagnant period, and Jon Jones is still going to be the greatest ever,” Brown said, adding he`d likely feel similarly if he were in Jones` position.
Interestingly, Brown argues that Jones` decision to wait seven months after defeating Stipe Miocic before retiring actually harms Aspinall more than anyone else.
Although Aspinall is now the undisputed heavyweight champion, his potential opponents lack the compelling appeal of a matchup against Jones. He`s gone from a potential superfight against arguably the greatest of all time to a series of bouts where he will be a heavy favorite.
Following Jones` retirement, oddsmakers quickly installed Aspinall as a significant 3-to-1 favorite against Ciryl Gane, widely considered his most probable next opponent. Brown astutely observes that Jones finished Gane swiftly in his heavyweight debut, a fact that will inevitably be mentioned if Aspinall`s first defense is against Gane, potentially diminishing the perceived value of Aspinall`s victory.
“It’s almost like Jon has something against Tom Aspinall,” Brown mused. “Like he just wanted to completely ruin his life in every way possible, and he’s doing a great job of it. It puts Tom in a tough spot. He’s definitely the biggest loser in this whole thing.”
Brown questioned Aspinall`s path forward, highlighting the lack of top-tier challenges. “Where does he go from here? He fights Ciryl Gane, the guy Jon beat in two minutes? Or Jailton Almeida? Almeida lost to [Curtis Blaydes]. The heavyweight division isn’t what it was.”
Brown drew a parallel to the latter part of Jones` light heavyweight career, which he found less exciting due to less compelling opponents after Jones had defeated all the legends. While Jones had a deep pool of contenders earlier on, Brown feels Aspinall is starting his reign facing an “uninteresting” landscape from the outset. He expressed disappointment that the heavyweight division, traditionally the most anticipated, currently lacks must-watch matchups for the champion.
He even compared the current heavyweight situation to some women`s divisions or the flyweight division during Demetrious Johnson`s dominant run, where a lack of deep, top-level competition potentially impacts the historical ranking of the champion despite numerous title defenses.
Brown concedes Aspinall can build a strong record through title defenses, but reiterates that the caliber of opponents is key to solidifying a legacy, citing Demetrious Johnson as an example whose historical standing is sometimes debated despite many defenses due to the perceived depth of his division compared to divisions like light heavyweight or welterweight.
Ultimately, Brown believes that while Jones might face temporary criticism for seemingly avoiding Aspinall, the main consequence is that Aspinall has been denied the crucial opportunity to elevate his own legacy by challenging a fighter of Jones` stature, especially given the current state of the heavyweight roster.
“I just think Jon doesn’t give a shit,” Brown concluded, suggesting Jones` retirement is more about his personal life than avoiding a tough opponent. “He’s out partying. He’s living his best life… I don’t think it has anything to do with him thinking that he’s going to have a hard time with Tom Aspinall, which I do think he would as a matter of fact, but I don’t think it has anything to do with that.” According to Brown, Jones, with millions in the bank, is simply choosing to enjoy his life rather than continue fighting.
