UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones was quite active on social media on June 6, making several posts.
Often considered the greatest fighter ever, Jones hinted he might not return to fighting, particularly dismissing the possibility of facing Tom Aspinall.
Aspinall backed up Jones` statements, suggesting that `Bones` has already retired and that the UFC is expected to soon clarify the future of the heavyweight division.
Just when the situation in the heavyweight division seemed clearer, Francis Ngannou`s coach brought his fighter back into the spotlight with recent comments.
Eric Nicksick mentioned that the former UFC champion might consider returning to the promotion, which drew a response from Jones, who called a potential bout between them a “real super-fight.”
Fans Criticize Jon Jones for Pursuing Ngannou, Suggesting It`s Easier Than Fighting Aspinall
After Jones stated that a match with Francis Ngannou was something he`d be interested in for its legacy implications, fans were quick to voice their disapproval.
Many fans replying to Jones noted that he didn`t appear very keen on fighting Ngannou back when both fighters were under contract with the UFC.
Some speculated that Jones now favors a fight with Ngannou because they perceive Ngannou as an easier opponent, especially given his past grappling struggles.
The champion addressed these criticisms by arguing that the supposed weaknesses attributed to Ngannou, particularly in grappling, are also present in Tom Aspinall.
Jones downplayed Aspinall`s grappling skills, implying he doesn`t consider the interim champion`s ground game as strong as many believe.
“You clowns thinking, Francis would be that much easier because of the ground game. Tom has no ground game either. In English black belt is like getting a participation ribbon.”
Recent Glimpses of Ngannou and Aspinall`s Grappling Prowess
Francis Ngannou hasn`t fought frequently lately, but he`s shown noticeable improvements in his grappling during his most recent bouts.
In his initial UFC loss to Stipe Miocic, Ngannou was significantly out-grappled, conceding 6 takedowns. However, since that 2018 fight, he has only been taken down a single time.
Furthermore, Ngannou has demonstrated his own grappling offense, securing takedowns against Ciryl Gane and Miocic in the UFC, and utilizing his wrestling to dominate Renan Ferreira in his first PFL appearance.
Regarding Tom Aspinall, his grappling abilities haven`t been showcased extensively, but he originates from a strong Jiu-Jitsu background, given that his father is a coach.
The interim champion`s record includes four submission victories, notably against opponents like Alexander Volkov and Andrei Arlovski.
