One extremely regarded MMA coach doesn’t consider Jon Jones purposely averted preventing Tom Aspinall.
Jones retired from the game slightly than face Aspinall in a title unification bout. Dana White informed reporters that “Bones” initially agreed to the combat however determined to hold up his gloves as an alternative. Shortly after his retirement, Jones claimed he was again within the drug testing pool and has known as for a spot on a possible UFC White Home card. White has shut down that concept.
Whereas followers on social media have been satisfied that Jon Jones ducked Aspinall, American Kickboxing Academy head coach Javier Mendez informed MMAJunkie.com that he doesn’t consider that is the case.
“Quite a lot of issues are made in between negotiations, and also you by no means know what’s actual and what’s not actual,” Mendez stated. “One factor I do know in my coronary heart in all of the years I’ve been coaching fighters: Fighters usually are not afraid of anybody. So when folks say, ‘Oh, he doesn’t need to combat.’ OK, then why are you right here then? Fighters are fighters. The circumstances might stop them from taking a combat as a result of possibly there’s not the appropriate amount of cash, possibly is just not this, however it’s not the opponent. The timing, cash, one thing that’s concerned, however it’s by no means I’m afraid of that fighter. By no means. I’ll refuse to consider that any actual fighter will all the time keep away from one thing. I don’t suppose so. I don’t consider that.”
Aspinall, the newly minted undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, will put his gold at stake in opposition to Ciryl Gane in the primary occasion of UFC 321 on Oct. 25 in Abu Dhabi. Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida may also be featured on the cardboard in a bout that might decide a No. 1 contender for the winner of Aspinall vs. Gane. Time will inform how issues shake out with the heavyweight division as soon as UFC 321 concludes.
