After his latest victory, UFC heavyweight kingpin Jon Jones has once again been dismissing a clash with interim heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall, instead targeting a showdown with reigning light heavyweight titleholder Alex Pereira.
However, UFC CEO Dana White isn’t sold on that matchup, believing Jones has a clear advantage over Pereira. On the other hand, "Bones" has stated that a fight against Aspinall would require a significant financial incentive to entice him.
Former UFC fighter and analyst Michael Bisping weighed in on the situation during his Believe You Me podcast, voicing concern over Jones potentially bypassing tougher challenges like Aspinall in favor of perceived easier fights.
My only issue is, as a man and as a fighter, him saying he doesn’t have this obligation to fight these young, up-and-coming, hungry, dangerous guys that have an ability to beat him,” Bisping said. “I don’t get that. That’s what my problem is with Jake Paul.
Bisping elaborated on why a Jones vs. Pereira fight might not excite fans the same way a heavyweight clash with Aspinall would.
Fighting guys that [Jones] knows he can beat – Alex Pereira, he has a very blatantly obvious path to victory. He just took down Stipe. He took down Ciryl Gane. He will take down Alex Pereira. Would he be able to take down Tom? That’s the question. That’s the fight. That’s what we want to see.
With both potential matchups offering unique narratives, the decision now lies in the hands of Jones, the UFC, and the negotiating table.
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