Vitor Belfort doesn’t need to see Jon Jones put his legacy in danger towards Tom Aspinall.
For greater than a yr, followers have been chomping on the bit to see Jones, the undisputed UFC heavyweight champion, face Aspinall, the interim heavyweight titleholder, in a unification conflict. Historically, that’s precisely what would occur when you’ve got two titleholders in a single division. Sadly, the struggle has not but occurred, nor has it even been introduced.
A lot of that seems to need to do with Jon Jones constantly dragging his toes, lobbying for a struggle with Alex Pereira earlier than telling the world that he’d need at the very least six months to coach for a showdown with the Brit.
Whereas everybody remains to be holding out hope that the promotion finally succeeds in reserving the most important heavyweight struggle of all time, Belfort believes it’s a foul concept for ‘Bones’ altogether.
“Jon Jones is… at a degree the place he can choose who he needs to struggle,” Belfort informed Helen Yee. “Preventing for the title, possibly that’s not his ardour anymore. I like to recommend now tremendous fights for him. Fights which can be going to make him need to struggle. He doesn’t have to show something to anybody. I wish to see him stroll away the way in which he’s.
“I don’t need to see him shedding the struggle. Some individuals need to see him lose; I need to see Jon Jones stroll away like… some guys stroll away undefeated. For me, it’s exhausting to see. I don’t need… It’s a danger struggle for him. Aspinall is a danger struggle for him. I don’t suggest that struggle for him. I like Jon Jones, in order that’s why. Jon, you understand I such as you. I simply need to see you do some enjoyable fights. You probably did the whole lot you can.”
Preventing Tom Aspinall gained’t damage Jon Jones’ legacy, however not combating nearly definitely will
With wins over a slew of sunshine heavyweight legends and a dominant third-round TKO over consensus UFC heavyweight GOAT Stipe Miocic in November, it’s protected to say that Jones’ legacy is solidified. A loss towards Aspinall probably wouldn’t change that.
Nevertheless, refusing to struggle the interim champion altogether would nearly definitely tarnish Jones’ legacy, leaving many with the lasting reminiscence not of his many wins, however of the person he was too afraid to struggle.
