I was 16 years old when I watched Jon Jones become the youngest UFC champion in history at age 23. 17 titles later and an undefeated record, it’s safe to say Jones may be the most dangerous human being to have ever walked the earth.
This Saturday, November 16, Jon Jones returns to the octagon for UFC 309 inside Madison Square Garden, to face former heavyweight king, Stipe Miocic in, what is arguably, his toughest fight yet. If you’re living in the UAE, you can watch it here.
Jon’s last fight, in March 2023, saw the former light heavyweight pack on some serious size to move up to heavyweight after a three year layoff. What should have been his toughest test to date lasted barely two minutes as Jones effortlessly disposed of Ciryl Gane, becoming UFC heavyweight champion in the process. Jon’s main criticism over the years has been that he “doesn’t hit hard” and “doesn’t finish opponents,” two remarks instantly disproven against Gane, which begs the question: could it be that the indestructible Jones is now even more dangerous as a heavyweight? Well, it certainly appeared so.
Stipe Miocic is 42 years old, and hasn’t fought since 2021, where he was viciously knocked unconscious by a certain Cameroonian. Is he the heavyweight g.o.a.t.? Some say so. But he’s no spring chicken, and the odds are already in Jon’s favour, which begs the question: with a win over Stipe, what left is there to prove?
Well, according to the internet, a lot. Specifically, current interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, whose chainsaw like tear through the division poses the only formidable threat to Jon right now. But according to Jon, that fight will never happen.
“I get that Tom is an exciting fighter. I get that finally after 16 years we found somebody who is seven years younger than me and 30lb bigger than me,” Jones said this week at a press conference. “We finally found someone who may give me a great challenge and everyone wants to see it so bad. For me, what’s in it for me? He changes nothing if I beat him. Beating Tom is just like beating Ciryl Gane [who is from France]. He has a whole country behind him [the UK], he’s hot right now, but what happens to me after I beat him? Nothing changes for me.”
Tom has been pushing for a match with the Jon ever since they first sized each other up, but according to the latter, this has done little to garner any interest or excitement.
“If I’m being completely honest, I feel like Tom’s been such an a****** that I don’t want to do business with him,” Jones said. “His fans have been so annoying and obviously you don’t get this far in a career being affected by fans or what not, but he’s just an a******.”
As Jon mentioned, Aspinall currently has the support of his native England backing him, and if UK sports fans have proven anything over the years, it’s that they’re ruthless, unforgiving, and relentless on social media.
“He’s 30 so he’s from this influencer generation where you hop online with the t-shirt sales and all that. I’m past that type of stuff. I’m like bro if you had a little bit more respect then maybe we could have something out,” Jon quipped. “I just don’t even want to do business with him – at the end of the day, this is a business. Fighting me gives him the opportunity to change his life forever. I don’t even want to give him the opportunity.” Jon concluded: “He just played his cards wrong with me personally. I’m three years from being a 40-year-old grown man. The press conference, going through the whole shebang with him, I’d rather not do.” Ouch.
As it stands now, if Jon wins against Stipe this weekend, the only man he has any interest in facing is light heavyweight champion, Alex Pereira. It’s hard to imagine Jones fearing any man at this stage in his life, but still, considering the size and track record of Aspinall, one can’t help but wonder if Jon is deliberately avoiding the UK standout for more reasons other than not wanting to give him a hefty payday. Pereira is one of the most dangerous knockout artists to ever step foot inside the octagon, but with Jon’s 84 inch reach, spidery limbs, and impeccable ground-game that has seen him effortlessly take down Olympic wrestlers in the past, it’s hard to bet on Pereira winning that fight.
Taking all of that into consideration, there really isn’t anything left for Jon to prove. What he does in the cage is akin to what Jimi Hendrix did with a guitar, or what Michael Jordan did with a basketball. And his personal troubles outside of the cage have only added to his lore, branding him as the only MMA fighter with rock-star like tendencies who still managed to show up and dominate.
With 16 years of MMA fighting behind him, at 37 years old, he’s done all he can, and should. And if you needed any more convincing, here’s Dana White gushing over him.
UFC 309 takes place this Saturday, November 16, at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The main card begins at 8pm ET, or 5am UAE time, Sunday, November 17. You can buy the PPV here.
