Jon Jones, a legendary figure in the world of MMA, has left a lasting impact on the sport as one of its greatest athletes. However, some of his peers still have reservations about his position at the top of the mountain.
Following his recent retirement, Jones is often compared to former two-division UFC champion Georges St-Pierre in discussions about the greatest of all time in MMA. Despite this, Jones’ career has been marred by several controversies, including failed drug tests and legal issues, which some find hard to overlook. Retired flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson, who is also in the GOAT conversation, has previously defended Jones but has now changed his stance.
“I’ve never failed a drug test,” Johnson emphasized. “Khabib [Nurmagomedov] has never failed a drug test. ‘GSP’ has never failed a drug test. Why is that? When you look at our long reigns and the fact that we’ve never been stripped of our titles, it speaks volumes. When you talk about the greatest of all time, you have to consider the entire career, not just the highlights. Jon Jones achieved great things, but when you compare him to athletes like Muhammad Ali or Floyd Mayweather who have never failed drug tests, there’s a stark difference.”
As Jones announced his retirement, it brought an end to the saga of his anticipated heavyweight unification bout with Tom Aspinall. Aspinall, who became the longest-reigning interim champion in UFC history while awaiting Jones, was ultimately promoted to undisputed status upon Jones’ retirement.
Aspinall echoed Johnson’s sentiments, naming St-Pierre as his GOAT due to his achievements and clean record. He emphasized the impact of PEDs in combat sports, stating that those who use them to gain an unfair advantage are reprehensible.
Having been directly affected by Jones’ career trajectory, Aspinall expressed his desire to move on from any potential matchup with Jones. He emphasized the importance of fighting clean and fair, and expressed his eagerness to face any opponent in the heavyweight division.
As Aspinall plans his next steps with the UFC, he remains open to facing top contenders like Ciryl Gane, Alexander Volkov, or Jailton Almeida. His focus is on continuing to compete at the highest level and solidifying his position as a top heavyweight in the UFC.
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