Jon Jones SHOULDN’T ‘get stripped’ of title, says Tom Aspinall as Brit UFC champ performs U-turn on recent call
TOM ASPINALL has changed his mind on Jon Jones’ continued reign as heavyweight champion, insisting he SHOULDN’T be stripped of the title.
Britain’s third UFC champion is gunning for a “dream” showdown with the undisputed 265lbs king following his stunning interim title win over Sergei Pavlovich last month.
But Jones is currently nursing a torn pec – which led to the introduction of the interim title – and will be out until July at the earliest.
Days after his Madison Square Garden heroics, Wigan warrior Aspinall called for Jones to be relieved of his undisputed crown.
But he’s since changed his stance after sitting back and further assessing the situation.
In an exclusive interview with SunSport, the 30-year-old said: “I said in previous interviews that I think Jon Jones should get stripped.
“I actually worded it wrong.
“I don’t think he should get stripped because I think Jon Jones has done so much for the sport as it is that I think he maybe deserves [to keep the belt].”
Aspinall’s respect for Jones’ body of work aside, he believes the American should contemplate allowing the division to move forward.
He continued: “I think he should potentially vacate. But at the same time, who am I to tell Jon Jones what to do?
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“If I come out and say, ‘I think he should vacate’, he’s definitely not going to vacate because I’ve said it.
“He’s probably gonna do the opposite.
“So I think that if it gets up to a year though or something like [he should vacate].”
The UFC brass plan on having Jones face former heavyweight champ Stipe Miocic when he eventually returns to the octagon.
So that means the two-weight champ will be at least 37 years old should he decide to stick around to face Aspinall, who believes Father Time will be on his side if his “dream” fight comes to fruition.
“We’re talking about a guy with a lot of miles on the clock,” Aspinall said of the former light-heavyweight champion. “The guy is definitely not fresh as an athlete.
“This thing is going to take a while. I know a few people who have torn their pec and stuff. It’s no joke that injury, mate.
“I know they’re saying eight to ten months before he can train – that translates to way north of a year until he can actually compete again.
“We’ll see, we’ll see how it all plays out I guess. I guess we just gotta wait and see.”
Sitting on the sidelines or having to potentially defend his interim crown as he waits for Jones and Miocic to handle their business will no doubt frustrate Aspinall.
Although it will give him more time to prepare for the fighter many believe is the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.
He said: “I’m getting better all the time and I’m getting more and more mature as an athlete.
“I think that bigger guys only mature a lot later in terms of strength and speed and just knowing my body.
“I’m learning about myself every day, so it’s not going to be time wasted for me, it’s going to be time that I’m improving.
“I’m not a guy who spends massive amounts of time out of the gym and gets fat and all that anymore.
“I take this stuff very seriously and I’m training twice a day.”