The uncertainty surrounding Jon Jones’ heavyweight return continues to leave the division in a state of limbo. While interim champion Tom Aspinall has expressed a consistent desire to unify the titles, the prolonged absence of the undisputed champion has stalled momentum at the top of the weight class. Now, the voices are beginning to question the approach Aspinall has taken during this waiting period.
Veteran manager Ali Abdelaziz recently weighed in on the matter. Abdelaziz expressed concern over how Aspinall has handled the situation. While respectful of the Brit’s talent, he believes a key opportunity is being missed.
Ali Abdelaziz Thinks Tom Aspinall Misread the Situation Against Jon Jones
The Egyptian mixed martial arts manager recently appeared on an episode of ‘Submission Radio‘ and candidly laid out what he believes would have been a better long-term strategy for the interim champion. The veteran noted that Aspinall is currently his favorite fighter in the UFC. However, he made the mistake of waiting for the eventual bout against Jones.
“Tom Aspinall is my favourite UFC fighter. And if I was his manager or advisor, I would’ve said a long time ago, ‘I don’t care about Jon Jones. Keep me busy. Let me keep defending the interim title,” said Abdelaziz.
From his point of view, waiting for Jones to return has allowed the reigning champion to dictate the terms of the conversation. For months, Aspinall and Dana White made rounds with “Bones” but to no avail.
Interestingly, Abdelaziz pointed out one important factor during the interview, and that is the amount of time wasted by Aspinall just waiting. The black-belt doubled down and noted that when a fighter is off his game for this long, the chances of injuries are higher.
“Now, they let Jon Jones hold the chips by Tom [Aspinall] holding his feet,” Abdelaziz continued. “Listen, you can buy everything back, except time. And I think Tom Aspinall made a huge mistake waiting for Jon Jones because this time is worth so much money and worth so much training.”
The heavyweight title picture has been complicated ever since Jones withdrew from his originally scheduled title defense against Stipe Miocic. While Aspinall secured the interim belt with a swift finish of Sergei Pavlovich, he has yet to return to action since that November 2023 victory, a stretch now exceeding several months. For now, the question still remains: When will Jones and Aspinall collide inside the Octagon?