Despite ongoing fan frustration with Jon Jones, the UFC heavyweight champion seems to be relishing his break from competition.
Interim champion Tom Aspinall appears ready to move past the potential fight with Jones, focusing on continuing his career instead of waiting indefinitely for a bout that may never materialize.
Many fans have sided with the interim champion, calling for Jones to be stripped of the title. Aspinall himself recently suggested that Jones is already retired.
While some, like former UFC champion Michael Bisping, remain hopeful the fight will happen, Jones hasn`t given the impression that`s his priority.
However, a UFC legend and former opponent of the widely considered `greatest of all time` believes the heavyweight champion is capitalizing on this situation, as it`s a new dynamic for him.
Chael Sonnen: Jon Jones Enjoys Controlling the Narrative in Tom Aspinall Situation
According to Chael Sonnen, Jon Jones is savoring the position of power he holds concerning what could be the UFC`s biggest potential fight.
“If you give any human being power, it’s going to be very rare that they don’t wield it,” Sonnen remarked in an exclusive interview.
Sonnen commented that despite Jones` incredible achievements, he doesn`t believe `Bones` has historically been a major financial draw for the promotion.
He referenced Max Kellerman`s past statements about Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya being the rare athletes who could generate massive interest purely on their own.
“I’m not actually insulting Jon, but it is a reality that Jon has never been good for business. Jon comes in. He takes a great big paycheck. They give it to him because they respect the work and how good he’s done. You can’t tell me of a ticket that you couldn’t get to a Jon Jones fight. You could walk up to the window the day of Jon’s fight, and you can buy tickets. He’s never sold out. He’s got no merchandise records. He’s got no PPV records. Now I only bring that to you because now he’s in a spot for that all to be different.”
Considering this history, Sonnen suggests Jones is now in a unique position, holding the power to make or break a highly anticipated bout.
Both the UFC and Tom Aspinall stand to benefit significantly from this fight, and the former UFC star believes `Bones` is enjoying the chance to dictate terms.
“For the first time ever, there was an opponent that people want to see Jon face and for the first time ever, there’s an opponent that might even be the betting favorite. For the first time ever, there’s a younger guy with just as shiny a belt that’s called interim who happens to be 30 pounds bigger than Jon, maybe even 40 pounds bigger than Jon. For the first time ever, people want Jon, and they can’t get this fight without Jon and it does seem as though he’s enjoying it.”
Sonnen Believes Jones Will Eventually Accept the Fight
While Sonnen acknowledges Jones holds significant leverage, he ultimately believes the former opponent of the heavyweight champion will agree to the fight when the timing is right.
Contrary to many fans` opinions, Sonnen is confident this situation isn`t simply Jones trying to avoid facing Aspinall altogether.
“If I put myself in his shoes, he’s got the right to enjoy this moment, but I must defend him in one way. I don’t think that Jon is holding this fight up. I know he’s gone to the media and he’s talked crazy, 30 and $40 million, saying you want 30, pricing yourself out of a fight is the same thing as chickening out of a fight. But, I don’t believe that Jon’s actually done that.”
Sonnen predicts that while Jones is clearly enjoying the current back-and-forth, it will ultimately lead to him returning to the Octagon to unify the heavyweight titles.
“I think he’s playing having some fun with the fans, and he’s waiting for that phone call to come. That’s what I believe,” he concluded.
