UFC legend Chuck Liddell says Jon Jones appears to be “punking out” of what shapes as the greatest challenge of his heavyweight reign – and stressed ‘Bones’ can never be considered the GOAT without facing Englishman Tom Aspinall.
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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia in New York this week, Liddell has also given his prediction for UFC 309, wondered aloud if Jones is “worried” about Aspinall, and even explained how he himself would look to beat the champ.
Yet despite the Hall of Famer’s questioning of ‘Bones’, fellow UFC great Kamaru Usman has branded it “ridiculous” to suggest the champ is scared of anyone – while also hinting that Aspinall took the wrong approach in chasing the fight.
Widely regarded as the greatest fighter in UFC history, Jones is looking to add yet another chapter to his storied career in Sunday’s blockbuster UFC title defence against Stipe Miocic.
While Liddell says the bookmakers are right to have Jones a short-priced favourite, ‘The Iceman’ revealed he will be cheering 5/1 underdog Miocic because the Cleveland firefight “is just a great guy”.
“And it’s not that I dislike Jon,” Liddell explained.
“I like him too.
“But I’d love to see Stipe pull this one off.”
Jones extends olive branch to Cormier | 01:12
What the UFC Hall of Famer doesn’t like however, is Jones’ insistence this week that, with a win, he won’t defend against Aspinall – despite the Englishman holding the division’s interim strap.
Instead, the champ has continually stated he prefers a fight with UFC light heavyweight king Alex Pereira, or even a cross-promotion against Francis Ngannou or boxing switch.
Jones stated he could even vacate the title instead of challenging Aspinall, who he is refusing to do business with “because he’s an a**hole”.
To which Liddell says what?
“Why?” he shrugged of Jones refusing that fight.
“If you’re the greatest fighter of all time, why wouldn’t you want to face an interim title holder?
“That seems like a cop out to me.
“It’s just punking out.
“And if you’re already talking like that ahead of a fight, you’re worried …”
Usman, however, disagreed.
“I can see it from both sides,” the former UFC welterweight champ started, when asked about the criticism surrounding Jones’ ongoing refusal to fight a man who holds his division’s interim strap.
“Because I’m in a similar place as Jon, where we’re both in a place of gratitude.
“We’re thankful that we’ve been given the ability to do this at such a high level for such a long time.
“And more so Jon, who has been defending titles for such a long time.
“And when you get into this position, it’s something else that drives you.
“It’s not just about money now.
“Of course, you go in there compete and make money.
“But something else drives you.
“And I know that if you say anything contrary to what the fans want, then you’re supposedly scared, you’re ducking.
“But let’s be honest, Jon Jones is not afraid of anyone.
Jones calls out Stipe for b*tch comment | 01:21
“To say he’s afraid of anyone is ridiculous.
“But when you’ve been defending as long as he has, there is a stress comes with it.
“And he doesn’t necessarily want that anymore.
“He wants fun fights.
“And Jon is in that rarified air where he can demand that.
“So while selfishly as fans we want that fight, if Jon doesn’t care about that fight he doesn’t.”
Elsewhere, there have been suggestions Jones’ quotes aren’t really how he feels, but instead his way of looking to gain an edge, mentally, over that rival he knows will be next up with a win.
“Maybe he’s trying to build the fight up, and make it pay better,” Liddell said when asked about the theory.
“I dunno.
“It seems odd, but maybe that is a strategy.
“I know for me when I talked about another fighter, I was trying to get in his head.
“So Jon being as strategic as he is, maybe it is what he’s trying to do.
“Because there are times when it can make a difference in fights.
“I still think Conor McGregor beat Jose Aldo by his s*** talking.
“Have you ever seen Aldo rung across the ring like did in that fight? He’d normally sit back, feel a guy out, leg kick him, leg kick him, leg kick him.
“Instead, he ran across and got caught.
“And that came from fight talk.
“So who knows?
“But it looks like you’re punking out.
“And if Jon does turn that fight (with Aspinall) down, how are you going to call yourself the greatest of all time?”
Asked how he would look to fight Jones himself, Liddell continued: “I would have struck with Jon.
“Finally it’s here” Stipe glad to return | 04:08
“And I don’t think he would’ve been able to take me down.
“He would’ve had a real hard time with that.
“Especially around that time where we could’ve fought, his jiu jitsu wasn’t as good as it is now.
“So even if he did get me down, I don’t think he could’ve kept me there.
“He would’ve been stuck striking with me.
“And I’m a lot longer than people think, was good at closing distance on people with a long reach
“My training partner, the guy I sparred with all the time, was 6’10’’.
“So I could get inside.
“And I think I would’ve tested his chin …”
So how does Miocic win?
“Don’t let Jon dictate where the fight is fought,” the legend said simply. “Because that’s what Jon does really well, controls distance and control where the fight is fought.”
Elsewhere, Usman also said that, apart from understanding Jones’ take on the Aspinall situation, the Englishman could potentially have taken a different approach in building the fight.
‘Prime’ Stipe ready to ‘spoil’ UFC 309 | 04:14
“When you say Jon Jones is running from you, it rubs him the wrong way,” Usman explained.
“So it becomes ‘no, I don’t want to do business with you, don’t want to give you this opportunity to make a name off me.
“I feel he would’ve been better served to approach it like Georges St Pierre did back in the day when asking for Matt Hughes.
“When he got on his knees and said ‘Dana, please, give me the shot …’
“I think that approach may have served Tom better than coming out and telling Jon he’s scared and doesn’t want to fight.
“Because then the fans jump on and it all backs Jon into a corner where, finally, he’s like ‘no, I don’t care about this fight’.”
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