Jon Jones didn’t see enough from Tom Aspinall at UFC 321 to change his mind about the heavyweight titleholder. Speaking on the NoScripts Podcast, the former two-division UFC champion said he “learned a lot” watching Aspinall’s no-contest with Ciryl Gane but came away unconvinced the Brit brings a multi-layered threat.
“Tom’s a great athlete, but I do feel like he’s a one-trick pony,” Jones said. “I believe that his wrestling and jiu-jitsu is incredibly overrated. He has a beautiful 1-2… that’s really about it.”
What Jones saw in 4:35
Before Gane’s accidental eye poke ended the bout with 25 seconds left in Round 1, the action was crisp and tense. Gane denied Aspinall’s lone takedown try and, by UFC Stats, out-landed him 30–27 in significant strikes. Jones who submitted Gane in two minutes in 2023 argued the Frenchman looked “comfortable” and “just getting warmed up,” noting Gane’s low hands, shoulder rolls and rhythm resets.
Aspinall, who’d blitzed Curtis Blaydes in a minute last July, faced rare resistance, then an abrupt end after a double eye poke left him unable to continue. He’s since posted updates while seeing specialists; UFC CEO Dana White has said a rematch with Gane is the plan “as soon as possible.”
Mind games never sleep
Jones kept the rivalry simmering despite retiring in June and lobbying for a slot on next summer’s planned White House card. He trolled Aspinall online—changing his avatar to a duck with an eye patch and even arrived at the Dirty Boxing 4 ceremonial weigh-ins on horseback wearing one.
What it means
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For Aspinall: The rematch with Gane likely becomes mandatory viewing—and a chance to reassert the fast-finish aura that fueled his rise. Expect more clinch entries, layered setups to the double, and elbow counters to dissuade Gane’s pocket play.
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For Jones: His preference remains a superfight with Alex Pereira at a catchweight on the White House show. His commentary keeps leverage and headlines while casting doubt on Aspinall as a true foil.
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Medical clearance for Aspinall, then Aspinall–Gane II.
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Jones continues angling for Pereira and the spectacle slot.
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If Aspinall shines in a redo, the pressure spike returns to “Bones”retired or not.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
