Jon Jones` recent decision to retire instead of facing interim champion Tom Aspinall for the undisputed heavyweight title has prompted some observers to question his standing in mixed martial arts history.
The legacy of the former two-division champion was widely considered secure well before discussions began about a potential clash with interim champion Tom Aspinall. Nevertheless, Jones prolonged Aspinall`s wait for a title unification bout for nearly 600 days before announcing his retirement and vacating the belt last weekend.
Rather than competing against the younger Aspinall, Jones` final appearance in the UFC was against 42-year-old Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 in November, a fight he won via third-round TKO.
Although widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters ever, Jones has faced criticism for seemingly avoiding the confrontation with Aspinall and potentially forfeiting a lucrative final UFC payout.Aljamain Sterling Defends Jon Jones` Retirement: “You Don`t Need to Fight”
Given Jones` legendary status over his 15-year career, some suggested he should retire rather than face Aspinall, specifically to protect his near-perfect professional record (his only official loss is a disqualification).
At 37, Jones is past his athletic prime and has shown little apparent interest in the Aspinall matchup from the outset.
Former UFC Bantamweight Champion Aljamain Sterling recently addressed the argument that Jones` refusal to unify the heavyweight title before retiring has damaged his legacy.
“I don`t believe Jon`s retirement tarnishes his legacy,” Sterling stated on his YouTube channel.
Sterling elaborated, “I know some are pushing that narrative, but how can a fighter who has defended his title more than 10 times have his legacy stained simply because he chose not to fight one final opponent?”
“If, hypothetically, he were hit by a car while negotiations were just beginning and couldn`t compete again, would people still claim this stains his legacy?”
“No. So, what`s the practical difference? He simply doesn`t want to fight him.”
“Now, speaking as a selfish fan myself, I would absolutely love to see Jon Jones fight Tom Aspinall. Of course, I want that fight; it`s a fascinating matchup.”
“However, I have to be realistic. I understand the business perspective, the importance of longevity, and protecting what you`ve achieved, especially when you`re in a position where fighting isn`t a necessity.”
Jon Jones Faced “Ducking” Accusations After 2020 Dominick Reyes Fight
Aspinall is not the first opponent Jones has been accused of avoiding during his 24-fight UFC career.
Before his move to heavyweight, Jones, then the light heavyweight champion, seemed largely uninterested in a rematch with Dominick Reyes following their February 2020 bout at UFC 247.
Reyes, who was undefeated at the time, pushed Jones to one of his toughest fights, ultimately losing a controversial unanimous decision in a contest many observers, including Dana White, believed Reyes had won.
Jones never rematched Reyes and did not compete in the light heavyweight division again. Reyes subsequently lost his next three fights by knockout, while Jones eventually returned after a three-year hiatus to claim the heavyweight title.
The criticisms leveled against Jones regarding the Reyes situation in 2020 bear a striking resemblance to comments seen today concerning the Tom Aspinall situation. Following his narrow victory over Reyes, Jones immediately expressed interest in a title fight against Jan Blachowicz that same month.
Examples of past fan reactions included:
- “Ducking Reyes,” read one comment.
- “This guy is begging not to fight Reyes again,” wrote another fan.
- A third called him “What a coward.”
- One user on X (formerly Twitter) noted the parallel: “What a similar era to the one we’re in now.”
Percy Harlow