UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones has recently faced significant criticism from fans during the latest phase of his distinguished career. This comes as interim titleholder Tom Aspinall has set new UFC records since his victory at UFC 295 in November 2023.
The potential heavyweight title unification bout between Jones and Aspinall is arguably the most anticipated fight in the sport today, leading to growing frustration among fans over the prolonged delay.
Aspinall himself has publicly stated his impatience, claiming he`s “had enough” and is prepared to move on if the fight doesn`t materialize soon. Despite positive updates from Dana White regarding the matchup, social media continues to react whenever Jones is seen engaging in activities unrelated to preparing for his return to the Octagon.
Jones Proactively Addresses Criticism, Confirms He`s Doing `Everything But Fighting`
While Tom Aspinall awaits his chance to unify the heavyweight belts, Jon Jones has been occupied with various endeavors, including a trip to Thailand. The heavyweight champion participated in filming the latest season of `ALF Reality,` a show comparable to `The Ultimate Fighter,` alongside Nate Diaz, in addition to pursuing other interests during his time abroad.
Following a video posted on social media featuring Jones and Hasbullah, fans expressed their exasperation, accusing him of “doing everything except fighting Tom Aspinall.” This echoed comments made during a recent Instagram live stream.
The fighter widely regarded as the greatest of all time recently announced his plan to teach an MMA seminar at the renowned Bangtao gym in Phuket on May 31. Given his current location in Thailand and previous experience coaching at the gym, the news itself wasn`t entirely unexpected.
However, anticipating the inevitable backlash based on recent fan reactions to his activities, Jones chose to preempt the criticism. In a comment below the announcement, he openly confirmed that he is indeed doing “everything but fighting.”
Bangtao Highlights Opportunity to Learn Jones`s Signature Kick
As evidenced by the frequent posting of Tom Aspinall GIFs under the seminar announcement, seemingly everything Jon Jones does currently attracts criticism. While `Bones` may not be the most popular figure on the roster at the moment, the opportunity for fans to train and learn from a legendary fighter like him is undeniably valuable.
Bangtao gym`s announcement specifically mentioned that participants could learn the spinning back kick that Jones utilized to defeat Stipe Miocic at UFC 295 (Note: The original article stated UFC 309, which is incorrect based on UFC schedule and confirmed Miocic fight). This detail underscores that fans` issue isn`t with Jones`s skills or fighting ability; he is still recognized as one of the best ever.
The core of the frustration stems from the long wait for him to face the interim champion, whose title reign continues to break records, leaving fans eager for the unification bout.
Gareth Tenby