Jon Jones Accused of ‘Mentally Exhausting’ Tom Aspinall by Former Opponent

According to his former opponent, Anthony Smith, Jon Jones is engaged in significant mind games ahead of a potential fight with Tom Aspinall.

Jones, the current heavyweight champion, has faced criticism and been labeled a ‘duck’ by fans for delaying a title unification bout against interim champion Tom Aspinall. The delay has been ongoing since Jones defended his belt against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November, causing widespread frustration among fans.

Even his longtime rival, Daniel Cormier, suggested that Jones might be avoiding the fight due to fear of becoming a highlight-reel moment for Aspinall.

Jones Accused of Mentally Draining Aspinall with Delays

Smith elaborated on his view that Jones is intentionally draining Aspinall mentally through these continuous delays. Speaking on ESPN, Smith stated, “Jon is a master manipulator and he is a master at mind games that are behind the sport, he’s been doing it for years against the best guys in the world.”

He continued, “The person who cares the least in every negotiation, wins. Jon Jones does not care what Tom Aspinall wants and in fact, wants to do the complete opposite of what Aspinall wants. It’s one of the most exhausting things I’ve ever had to deal with… Jon is the master at emotionally and mentally exhausting people and you can see it in Tom Aspinall already.”

Despite the prolonged delays, UFC President Dana White recently provided an update, stating that ‘Bones’ will definitely fight in 2025. With upcoming Pay-per-view main events being announced, the November event is speculated as a potential date for the highly anticipated Jones vs. Aspinall matchup, widely considered one of the biggest possible fights in the sport.

Paddy Pimblett Calls for Jon Jones to Be Stripped

The continued inactivity from Jones has led some fans, and even fellow fighters, to call for the UFC to strip him of his title and promote Tom Aspinall to the undisputed champion.

British UFC star Paddy Pimblett is among those who believe Jones has held onto the title for too long without defending it against the current top contender. Pimblett stated, “If you’re making Islam (Makhachev) vacate, Jones needs to be stripped.”