UFC legend Frank Mir believes that Jon Jones has a '70 – 90%' chance of beating Tom Aspinall in an undisputed title fight
01/09/2024 10:25
Legendary fighter and former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir knows that Tom Aspinall is one of the best athletes in the world but gives the British juggernaut only the slightest chance to beat Jon Jones in the octagon.
Not only does former champion Frank Mir have the second-most fights in UFC heavyweight history, but he also holds the second-most wins, and the second-most finishes in the division – so it's safe to say that he knows what it takes to be undisputed king better than most.
UFC legend Frank Mir says Jones has a '70-90%' chance of beating Aspinall
Whilst the global MMA community debates the controversial UFC heavyweight title picture, former champion of the division Frank Mir doesn't see the undisputed title fight between Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall as being anything other than a one-sided beatdown.
"I kind of get it because it's an entertainment sport and Tom is a phenomenal fighter," acknowledged the UFC veteran to talkSPORT MMA, adding how "When it's all said and done, he might have some accolades very similar to Jon's, but they're [there] not at this point.
"Jon has beaten everybody, cleaned out his weight class and then moved up and took on a very dangerous opponent to become a two-weight champion – he also has two wins over Daniel Cormier, who's arguably the next best guy ever at 205lbs."
Mir stated that if he was in Aspinall's shoes, he would be doing everything he possibly could to 'p**s off' Jones in the hopes of securing that title fight – an opinion which was notably echoed by Daniel Cormier earlier in the week.
"That could catapult his career [but] beating Tom Aspinall is not going to do nothing for Jon's career… Tom could win but at the end of the day, if you said put my money down on it if they fought this year or within 12 months from now, I think Jon has about a 70% to 80%, 90% chance of winning that fight."
Mir justified this rather bold prediction by explaining how even with the advantage of youth on his side, Aspinall doesn't possess the physical attributes or grappling skills to best 'Bones'.
"He's not old, he still has a reach advantage, he still has a crazy kick advantage and then if Tom closes the distance, he's never submitting Jon Jones… Jon outwrestles him, absolutely. If they have a takedown contest, he can't take Jon down one time. Zero, absolutely zero.
"I think it's interesting and it's every fight for Tom to make, I get it [and] for his sake I hope he gets it, but for Jon's sake; I get why he just avoids it – like what's he going to do to me, that the rest of them couldn't do to me."
Jon Jones teases he's getting close to being in 'fight shape' ahead of UFC return
Whilst UFC fans are desperate to see Jones facing the interim champion, the former light heavyweight and current heavyweight king needs to first get through Stipe Miocic.
That undisputed title bout has not yet been officially announced by the promotion but is expected to take place at UFC 309 in November at Madison Square Garden.
Luckily, Jones has recently teased, in one of many social media posts attacking Aspinall, that he's getting close to being in 'fight shape' as that November date looms large over the horizon.
When asked by a fan whether he thought he could beat Aspinall at heavyweight, Jones replied by stating: "Bro, absolutely. I'm getting close to being in fight shape and I'm weighing in at 245 now. He probably cuts weight to get down to heavyweight…
"The night we fought he would probably weigh a solid 25 pounds more than me, seven years younger, and I would still whip his ass like I've done everyone else. You guys can go ahead and believe the hype, I'll keep doing what I've always done, win."
That sentiment lasted some 20 minutes before Jones responded to a separate fan post by suggesting that he could "leave you with blue balls" over the Aspinall fight and that if he did, his legacy would remain intact.
"There's people around the world that's been watching me fight since they can remember. He would have to go on and win like 10 championships at least in order for that to happen. The work I put in, that body of work ain't getting touched no time soon."
