Curtis Blaydes doesn’t suppose Jon Jones is the heavyweight GOAT, however he may very well be. He simply must man up and struggle Tom Aspinall.
In November, ‘Bones’ defended his UFC heavyweight title for the primary time, handily defeating Stipe Miocic in a struggle that was extra about legacy than anything.
With that out of the way in which, consideration has moved to a long-awaited unification conflict between Jones and Aspinall, the promotion’s interim heavyweight champion.
To date, no date, location, or venue has been introduced for the struggle, however Dana White is aiming to guide the bout someday this summer time. Sadly, that every one hinges on Jones’ willingness to signal on the dotted line which stays a sore topic for struggle followers and Aspinall, who just lately accused ‘Bones’ of dragging his toes throughout negotiations.
Blaydes insists Jon Jones isn’t the heavyweight GOAT … However he may very well be
Forward of his return to the Octagon this Saturday evening at UFC 313 in Las Vegas, Blaydes made it clear that, in his eyes, Jon Jones stands out as the biggest fighter of all time, however he’s not the very best heavyweight in UFC historical past. Nor will he be till he truly reveals up and provides followers the struggle they need to see.
And, you understand, win the struggle. That’s vital too.
“We don’t. I don’t believe we do. Those weren’t real tests,” Blaydes advised MMA Preventing in reference to Jones’ first two appearances at heavyweight. “These aren’t… I’m not going to say he may be the GOAT, however not the GOAT of heavyweight. I’m not saying he’s the GOAT of heavyweight proper now. Though he beat him, I nonetheless give it to Stipe as a result of when he was at his brightest, he was particular.
“But I was also like, what, five years ago? Six years ago? So, the only way for Jon to earn my respect—and I know he doesn’t care about earning my respect—but the only way for me to say, “Yeah, this dude’s the heavyweight GOAT,” is for him to beat Aspinall. You’ve acquired to struggle the very best to be the very best.”
After arising brief in opposition to Aspinall at UFC 304, ‘Razor’ will look to climb again into the win column when he meets Russian knockout artist Rizvan Kuniev this weekend.
Kuniev makes his Octagon debut unbeaten in his final 12 fights, together with two wins on Dana White’s Contender Collection and appearances in Eagle FC and the PFL.
