Undefeated UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria has addressed the speculation surrounding Jon Jones` recent retirement, particularly the claims that `Bones` is avoiding a potential clash with the new undisputed heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall.
Tom Aspinall was elevated to undisputed champion status on Saturday, following Jon Jones` official announcement that he was stepping away from the sport. Aspinall had previously held the interim heavyweight title since November 2023.
Jones, at 37 years old, concludes a remarkable career spanning 30 professional fights, maintaining an undefeated record in title bouts.
Prior to his final title defense against Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November, Jones had expressed limited interest in fighting Aspinall, and even the prospect of a substantial UFC payout didn`t alter his stance.
Jon Jones` retirement has elicited a range of responses from the mixed martial arts world. While many have lauded his legacy as an all-time great, others have accused the former heavyweight king of `ducking` Aspinall by retiring.
Speaking ahead of his lightweight title bout at UFC 317, the unbeaten UFC superstar Ilia Topuria offered his perspective on the situation.
Topuria: Jones Isn`t Running, He Simply Wants to Retire
Topuria himself previously suggested that lightweight champion Islam Makhachev was avoiding him when Makhachev contemplated moving up to welterweight for a second belt. However, Topuria is now scheduled to face Charles Oliveira for the vacant lightweight title at UFC 317, rather than Makhachev.
Asked on The Ariel Helwani Show if he saw similarities between Makhachev`s past actions and Jones retiring before a potential fight with Aspinall, Topuria firmly disagreed.
“Not at all. You can’t even compare that situation,” Topuria asserted. “You can’t compare Jon Jones with Islam.
“Jon has done so many great things in the sport. He fought the best of the best in the last ten years. So, I don’t think he’s ducking anyone.
“He just wants to retire. He’s tired, maybe, of the game or whatever, and he wants to retire. I don’t think he’s ducking anyone because you can find a guy always that’s [new], ‘He’s the next one [to beat Jones].’
“Even if he beats Tom Aspinall, there’s gonna be someone new.”
Could Aspinall`s Future Success Impact Jones` Legacy?
While Jon Jones` career is filled with accolades, some observers suggest his decision not to compete against Aspinall could potentially affect his standing as the greatest fighter of all time, particularly if Aspinall achieves significant success as the undisputed champion.
MMA producer Eric Jackman shared this perspective during his appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“Tom Aspinall has Jon Jones’ legacy in his hands,” Jackman commented.
“If Aspinall goes out there and becomes as great a heavyweight as I believe he can be, Jon is going to have egg on his face and this will become an indelible part of his legacy.”
“He will be inextricably tied to Tom’s rise,” Jackman added, emphasizing the potential connection between the two fighters` histories.
However, Jackman also noted that a loss for Aspinall could change the narrative surrounding Jones` retirement decision.
“But if Tom Aspinall loses his next fight, it won’t have any real impact on Jon’s legacy,” Jackman explained. “In fact, people will rewrite history and say Tom wasn’t equipped for it, that he wasn’t ready. And if he had fought Jon at that time, Jon probably would have won.”
