Jon Jones’ unexpected retirement has generated strong reactions, especially concerning its consequences for Tom Aspinall’s rise in the UFC heavyweight division. Although some critics accuse Jones of avoiding a fight with Aspinall, UFC veteran Matt Brown dismisses this argument, stressing that Jones’ legacy will withstand any short-term controversy. The focus on “Tom Aspinall retirement impact” highlights how Jones stepping away reshapes the talent pool and title chase in the heavyweight ranks.
Brown, speaking on The Fighter vs. The Writer podcast, pointed out that the passage of time tends to soften harsh criticism in MMA. Despite the current uproar and desire for a Jones-Aspinall showdown, Brown believes the narrative around Jones’ retirement will eventually be forgotten. He emphasized that Jones’ extensive accomplishments will ensure his reputation remains firmly intact, regardless of this final career chapter.
Matt Brown’s Perspective on Jon Jones’ Legacy and Retirement Timing
According to Brown, Jones handled the situation with confidence, embracing criticism while asserting his greatness and autonomy over his career decisions. Brown said,
“On his end, he’s like ‘f*ck you guys, say whatever you want, it’s all going to be forgotten, I’m the greatest, I can do whatever the hell I want,’ and if I was in his shoes, I’d probably say the same damn thing.”
Jones waited seven months after defeating Stipe Miocic before announcing his retirement, a delay that Brown says significantly harms Aspinall’s prospects.
Having been crowned undisputed heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall now faces a diminished pool of credible challengers. His chance at fighting Jones, arguably one of the greatest fighters in history, has evaporated, leaving behind fewer enticing matchups. Current odds place Aspinall as a strong favorite over Ciryl Gane, his most probable next opponent, but Brown warns this setup may work against Aspinall’s legacy since Jones decisively defeated Gane in his heavyweight debut.
Challenges Facing Tom Aspinall After Jones’ Exit
Brown expressed sympathy for Aspinall, describing him as the “biggest loser” in the fallout from Jones’ retirement. He explained,
“It’s almost like Jon has something against Tom Aspinall. Like he just wanted to completely ruin his life in every way possible, and he’s doing a great job of it. It puts Tom in a tough spot. He’s definitely the biggest loser in this whole thing. It makes it difficult for him.”
The options available to Aspinall now appear uninspiring. Brown questioned,
“Like where does he go from here? He fights Ciryl Gane, the guy Jon beat in two minutes? Or Jailton Almeida? Almeida lost to [Curtis Blaydes]. The heavyweight division isn’t what it was.”
The limited depth in the heavyweight category weakens the excitement around Aspinall’s reign, in stark contrast to the number of top-tier fighters Jones encountered throughout his career.
Reflecting on Jones’ Career and the State of the Heavyweight Division
Matt Brown highlighted that Jones’ dominance at light heavyweight was marked by a lineup of elite contenders that he thoroughly defeated, earning an unmatched level of competition exposure early in his career. Brown stated that moving to heavyweight was an additional achievement for Jones after establishing himself as one of the sport’s best. However, the heavyweight division, by comparison, has become a landscape with few noteworthy challengers and a shallow talent pool.
Brown illustrated this point by noting,
“Jon ruined the freaking light heavyweight division. He knocked out all the legendary guys that we thought would give him [a fight] like ‘Shogun’ [Mauricio Rua] and ‘Rampage’ [Quinton Jackson] and Rashad Evans and then Daniel Cormier and then the tail end of his light heavyweight run it’s [Thiago] Santos, who he arguably lost to, [Dominick] Reyes, who he arguably lost to. It just went kind of uninteresting later on. But Tom is kind of starting right there with being uninteresting. The heavyweight division is supposed to be the division all the fans want to go watch. I don’t know how interested we’d be in watching Tom fight these guys.”
He further compared the current heavyweight division to certain women’s divisions, where beyond a few viable fighters, the rest seem less competitive. Brown speculated whether the UFC might need drastic moves, such as reintroducing Brock Lesnar, to restore excitement in the heavyweight class. Although posed partly in jest, his observation underscores the widespread concern about the division’s lack of compelling title challengers.
Potential for Aspinall’s Legacy Despite Difficult Competition
Despite the challenges, Tom Aspinall still has the opportunity to build his own legacy through multiple title defenses. Brown acknowledged that accumulating wins as champion could elevate Aspinall’s standing but warned that the quality of opponents remains a significant factor in how history will judge him. The situation mirrors instances like Demetrious Johnson, who despite a record number of title defenses, often faces questions about the overall strength of his division.
Jones’ Motives and Lifestyle After Retirement
Brown suggested that Jones’ retirement is less about avoiding Aspinall and more about personal choices and lifestyle. He explained,
“I just think Jon doesn’t give a shit. He’s out partying. He’s living his best life. I don’t think it has anything to do with him thinking that he’s going to have a hard time with Tom Aspinall, which I do think he would as a matter of fact, but I don’t think it has anything to do with that.”
Brown added,
“I think he’s a party animal and he’s got millions of dollars in the bank and he’s set for life. He’s like f*ck yeah I’m going to go party, why should I go fight?”
This perspective portrays Jones as someone content with his achievements and lifestyle, no longer driven by the pressures of competition, which stands in contrast to the difficult path still awaiting Aspinall.