Joe Rogan believes Jon Jones made a critical error before retiring from MMA by underestimating the rising star Tom Aspinall. The UFC commentator and fight fans had anticipated a highly anticipated unification clash between Jones and Aspinall later this year, which Jones ultimately shut down by announcing his retirement last weekend.
Joe Rogan Criticizes Jon Jones’ Decision to Avoid Tom Aspinall
Jon Jones spent months evading a fight with Tom Aspinall, despite growing pressure from UFC fans, including a petition signed by 195,000 people demanding he be stripped of his heavyweight title. Rather than facing Aspinall, Jones repeatedly claimed the English fighter was not a significant enough name and expressed interest in battling Francis Ngannou or Alex Pereira instead. However, the UFC remained firm on Aspinall being the rightful challenger.
Joe Rogan voiced his belief that Jones seriously misjudged Aspinall’s appeal and star potential before stepping away from the sport. Speaking with Cory Sandhagen on his podcast, Rogan explained that the fight was not just about rankings but also about lucrative matchups. He said,
“It’s also money fights. I think he’s wrong because I think Aspinall is a star. I really do. And I think he’s saying, ‘Who is he? He’s no one.’ Aspinall is a star. When people ask me questions all the time, like casuals on the streets, it’s, ‘Is Jon Jones going to fight Tom Aspinall?’ That’s like the constant question.”
—Joe Rogan, UFC Commentator
Tom Aspinall Keeps Door Open for a Future Bout with Jon Jones
Despite Jones’ retirement announcement, Aspinall has not dismissed the possibility of facing the UFC legend in the future. He anticipates that Jones might reconsider and return to challenge him down the line. Aspinall shared,
“I’m in a spot in my career where there’s not all that much footage out there on me. Maybe he sees something on me in the next few fights, and he thinks, ‘You know what? I can beat this guy. I’m gonna come back and beat him.’”
—Tom Aspinall, UFC Fighter
He added,
“Mentally, I’m never counting that out. The fight could always pop back up and come back around on me.”
—Tom Aspinall, UFC Fighter
The growing tension around this potential matchup highlights the uncertain future in the heavyweight division. Jones’ retirement leaves a void, while Aspinall’s emerging status signals the UFC’s next big contender. Fans and analysts alike remain on edge, wondering if Jones will reverse his retirement decision to face the fighter many see as his inevitable successor.