Jon Jones paused discussions about his potential fight with Tom Aspinall to address his recent comments regarding the UFC`s pound-for-pound king, Islam Makhachev.
UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones and interim titleholder Tom Aspinall are currently in a state of uncertainty, as the promotion continues to offer vague updates on their negotiation status. A fight between Jones and Aspinall is potentially eyeing a September date, given that the UFC`s summer schedule is mostly occupied with other major bouts.
Earlier this week, Jones sparked frustration among UFC fans by declaring `I`m done` in a leaked conversation via FaceTime with another fighter. Jones has since backtracked on that statement, and UFC CEO Dana White remains determined to make the Aspinall fight a reality.
In the meantime, Jones is set to coach against former UFC star Nate Diaz on a Russian version of The Ultimate Fighter. While filming the show, Jones raised eyebrows by describing UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev as `still young in the sport`, a comment that irritated many devoted fans of the P4P leader.
Jon Jones Addresses Criticism Over Islam Makhachev Assessment
During the show`s filming, Diaz and Jones were discussing the UFC`s top P4P fighter. Diaz began to diminish the Dagestani`s achievements in the Octagon. Jones responded by labeling Makhachev an “up-and-coming fighter,” a remark widely seen as surprising concerning the UFC`s current top name.
Many of Makhachev`s supporters reacted strongly on social media, directing more criticism towards Jones than Diaz, possibly due to Diaz`s long and complicated history with fighters from Dagestan. Jones was quick to respond to the controversy.
In a recent interview with Red Corner MMA, Jones commented on the fan backlash regarding his statements about Makhachev.
“I feel like the comment I made upset a lot of people, a lot of Islam`s fans,” Jones stated. “But what I was really trying to do was translate for Nate to the Russians. Nate speaks in a very laid-back way, he speaks with a lot of slang. If you`re not American, it might be hard to understand what he was saying.”
“So I was just trying to translate for Diaz. But at the same time, when I say Islam is an up-and-coming fighter, coming from me, I can say that.”
Jones has frequently questioned the rankings of both Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev in the pound-for-pound debate over recent years. Jones believes Nurmagomedov`s decision to retire from fighting after UFC 254 affects his position in discussions about the greatest of all time.
Makhachev has an opportunity to enhance his legacy by potentially competing for a second UFC title later this year against UFC Welterweight Champion Jack Della Maddalena. Della Maddalena recently defeated Makhachev`s teammate, Belal Muhammad, at UFC 315 earlier this month.
Jon Jones Calms Retirement Speculation Amidst Tom Aspinall Fight Uncertainty
After Jones reversed his stance on retirement from MMA, he and his team will shift their focus back to negotiating a comeback fight with the UFC brass. Jones secured the UFC Heavyweight Championship by finishing Stipe Miocic in November at UFC 309.
Aspinall defended the interim heavyweight title by finishing Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 last year. He was seated cageside at UFC 309 when Jones notably did not mention him by name in the Octagon after his dominant win over Miocic.
As the ongoing saga between Jones and Aspinall continues, fan patience is wearing thin. Hopefully, fight enthusiasts will eventually witness the highly anticipated heavyweight clash they are hoping for.
Rupert Hartwell