Jon Jones is without question the greatest MMA fighter of all time. The current heavyweight champion has never lost a fight – albeit for one disqualification for a 12-to-6 elbow rule which has since been updated – and he remains the king of the mountain. His recent knockout victory of longtime former champ Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 rubber stamped his legacy, but now the critics are circling.
In recent times, Jonny Bones has come in for plenty of criticism for avoiding interim champion Tom Aspinall. Rather than unifying heavyweight titles against the Brit, Jones opted to wait for over 18 months for a clash with Miocic which, if truth be told, not many people truly wanted to see. And it’s not the first time this has happened.
Jones’ Inactivity
Towards the latter end of his stint as light heavyweight champion, Jones became renowned for inactivity. After his knockout victory against Daniel Cormier was overturned due to a failed drug test in July 2017, the monstrous fighter would fight just four more times in the next three years. When he did fight, he picked up contentious decision victories against both Thiago Santos and Dominick Reyes, two fighters who have dropped down the rankings in the years since.
Between August 2020 and Jones’ heavyweight debut in March 2023, the former 205 pound champion was on the shelf. He stated he took the time preparing and gradually bulking his body for the move to heavyweight. And after the first round demolition job on Cyril Gane in his heavyweight debut, perhaps that excuse could be believed.
But now, further inactivity is alarming. Aspinall has been clamouring for a unification fight for well over year now, but even he seems to have grown tired of waiting around. Now, Jones is stating that he needs another six months to prepare for the grdudge match, a quite laughable statement considering the fact that his last fight was already four months ago and that he is far more experienced than his younger opponent.
Jones’ words have left both fans and analysts scratching their heads. Aspinall has been the number-one contender for some time now, winning the interim title over 500 days ago and successfully defending it twice. What more does he need to do?
Perhaps it’s the consensus opinion that Jones would be the underdog for the fight that has him running, dare we say it, scared? If the latest betting odds are anything to go by, that certainly looks to be the case. Even though an agreement hasn’t been reached between the two parties, betting sites in Canada have Jones priced as a narrow -103 underdog, with Aspinall the -117 favourite. Has this played a part in Jones’ continued avoidance?
Chael Sonnen Weighs In
One of the loudest voices of dissent comes from the famously outspoken Chael Sonnen, former middleweight title contender and commentator. According to Ariel Helwani’s report, which first broke the story of Jones’ request, Sonnen finds the six-month time frame baffling.
“We’ve got four months since his last fight!” the American Gangster said, referencing Jones’ defence against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309. “Did he take the whole time off? What do you mean six months—from now?!”
The criticism largely revolves around the fact that Jones, who injured his pectoral muscle in the months leading up to his latest fight, has already had time to train. Some wonder why Jones didn’t begin preparing for Aspinall earlier, given the inevitability of their clash. Instead of taking steps toward the fight fans want, many feel Jones has left the division in limbo.
If the fight does move forward as planned during International Fight Week—which would be held on June 28, 2025—the date would be just three months away from now, far short of Jones’ requested six-month timeline.
Fighters Who Took Long Preparation Times for Key Bouts
Jones is not the only fighter to take an unusually long time to prepare for a fight. Combat sports history is filled with examples of fighters who stretched the timelines for their bouts for various reasons. After Tyson Fury took off a lengthy amount of time for mental health reasons, he spent a full 12 months preparing for a mouth-watering clash against the hard-hitting Deontay Wilder.
After returning to training in January 2018, the Gypsy King got himself back into peak fighting shape as well as winning two tune-up fights against the unranked Sefer Seferi and Francesco Pianeta, in the summer. He then battled Wilder that December, earning a contentious draw despite seemingly being ahead in the eyes of most onlookers. Fury then took another 14 months to prepare for the pairs rematch also, opting for bouts against the likes of Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin before brutally knocking out Wilder the second time around.
Muhammad Ali took an extended period to prepare for his epic third bout with Joe Frazier in 1975. Dubbed the “Thrilla in Manila,” this gruelling contest cemented Ali’s legacy as the greatest of all time. The icon spent months in deep preparation, knowing that Smokin’ Joe’s relentless fighting style could overwhelm him. The extra time proved pivotal as Ali earned a TKO victory in the 14th round, though the fight itself was arguably one of the most demanding of his career.
Georges St-Pierre sits alongside Jones in the greatest MMA fighter of all time debate. However, he took four years away from the sport before his 2017 return. And even then, when he signed to fight middleweight champion Michael Bisping in February 2017, it took him up until November to prepare for his return. Considering the fact that he won the fight, he will say that his careful preparation paid dividends.
