Since Tom Aspinall won the UFC Heavyweight interim belt, and Jon Jones, the championship, the UFC fandom has been eager to unify the division. Aspinall and most of the MMA world have pulled all stops to book the fight, including a petition to strip Jones of his heavyweight title. But “The Bones” has maintained that he’s not interested in fighting “The Honey Badger.”
Jones insists he’s only interested in legacy fights that would deepen his reputation. Aspinall doesn’t think that’s the case; he believes the UFC legend is evading him. Both parties probably have genuine reasons but here are four fights that prove Jon Jones isn’t scared of Tom Aspinall as widely suggested.
1. Stuart Austin vs Tom Aspinall
True, Tom Aspina isn’t the same fighter he was a decade ago. He’s improved a great deal, and it’d be mischievous not to acknowledge his growth. Be that as it may, he was still a dangerous fighter in 2015, and Stuart Austin provided a blueprint for beating him. At BAMMA 21 in June 2025, “He-Man” submitted Aspinall with a heel hook in Birmingham, England.
Of course, Aspinal is more dangerous than he was 10 years ago. Nevertheless, he has stayed true to his fast-paced fighting style. If Austin tamed him a decade ago, he could still be stopped now. Who is in a better position to do that other than “The Bones?” With his years of experience and skill set, Jones can replicate Austin’s win if he ever faces “The Honey Badger.”
2. Curtis Blaydes vs Tom Aspinal
Aspinall redeemed himself against “Razor” at UFC 304 in 2014 after their first bout in July 2022. While “Honey Badger” triumphed at the second meeting, he succumbed to Blaydes 15 seconds into the first after landing a thigh kick that injured his knee. Even if Blaydes’ victory wasn’t a clear-cut win as suggested in some UFC quarters, the fight highlights a major loophole Jones could exploit against Aspinall – his legs.
Just like the fight with Stuart Austin, Tom Aspinall’s first outing with Blaydes exposed his legs as his weakest link. Now, “The Bones” is a malicious fighter known for capitalizing on his opponents’ weaknesses. If he can keep his distance from Aspinall and attack his knee with his dangerous … kick, “Honey Badger” might be overwhelmed to forsake his game plan and save his legs.
3. Jon Jones vs Ciryl Gane
@espn The full #UFC heavyweight title fight between #JonJones and #CirylGane 🏆👀 #UFC309 #MMA #combatsports #wrestling #champion
Once upon a time, the UFC fandom imagined that “Bon Gamin” would be “The Bones'” toughest opponent, and rightly so. Debuting against Raphael Pessoa in August 2019, Gane was on a seven-game winning streak before Ngannou handed him his first loss at UFC 270 in January 2022. He went five rounds with “The Predator,” who won by unanimous decision.
Facing Jones in March 2023, Gane suffered the most humiliating defeat in his MMA career. “The Bones” submitted him with a guillotine choke in the first round to become the champion on his heavyweight debut. Dominating Gane as he did, it’s hard to buy into the narrative that he’s scared of Tom Aspinall.
4. Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou
Much has been said about Jon Jones ducking Tom Aspinall the same way he evaded the Cameroonian Predator Francis Ngannou. While the two never got to what could have been the biggest heavyweight clash in UFC’s history, Jones’ willingness to fight Francis was never in doubt, at least to some extent. “The Bones” expressed his willingness to fight Ngannou, but was asking for a significant monetary compensation. He notably admitted that there was a great chance for Ngannou to knock him out cold, stressing he should be adequately paid to take up the fight.
The UFC never got around to retaining the Cameroonian fighter, and that’s not on Jones. As the fight never happened, there’s no telling what the outcome would have been. But then, Francis Ngannou’s boxing match with Anthony Joshua shows that “The Predator” can be tamed. The Nigerian-British former heavyweight boxing champion controlled that fight with good pacing, denying Francis the chance to use his explosive knockout power. Now, timing and pacing are some of Jones’ best attributes as a fighter. He technically has what it takes to put “The Predator” down. If he can stop Francis, is Tom Aspinall too big a risk to take?
