Following Jon Jones` retirement, he faced criticism for allegedly avoiding a fight with Tom Aspinall. However, fellow UFC figure Matt Brown doesn`t share this view. Brown believes from experience that a fighter`s past issues tend to fade from memory over time, which he expects for Jones` legacy. Despite the desire for a Jones-Aspinall fight now, Jones` substantial career achievements mean his retirement won`t significantly harm his reputation in the future.
As Brown explained on *The Fighter vs. The Writer*, Jones is intelligent and understands that within a couple of years, the current discussions will be forgotten. The division and the UFC will move forward, the seven-month pause will be overlooked, and Jon Jones will remain widely considered the greatest ever.
Brown imagines Jones` perspective as defiant: “Say what you want, it will all be forgotten. I`m the greatest; I can do whatever I want.” Brown admits he`d likely feel the same way in Jones` position.
If anything, Brown feels Jones` decision to wait seven months after his win over Stipe Miocic before retiring disproportionately negatively impacts Tom Aspinall more than anyone else.
Although Aspinall has been elevated to undisputed heavyweight champion, his options for challenging opponents are limited. He missed an opportunity to potentially face one of the sport`s greatest fighters and now faces a series of matchups where he is expected to be a strong favorite.
Following Jones` retirement, oddsmakers quickly positioned Aspinall as a 3-to-1 favorite against Ciryl Gane, who seems like his most probable next opponent. Brown astutely points out that Jon Jones dominated Gane in his heavyweight debut, a fact that will inevitably be highlighted if Aspinall`s first official title defense as undisputed champion is against Gane.
Brown suggested that it`s “almost like Jon has something against Tom Aspinall,” intentionally making things difficult for him. He called Aspinall “definitely the biggest loser in this whole thing,” emphasizing the challenging situation it creates for the new champion.
Brown questioned Aspinall`s potential next moves:
“Where does he go from here? He fights Ciryl Gane, the guy Jon beat in two minutes? Or Jailton Almeida? Almeida lost to [Curtis Blaydes]. The heavyweight division isn’t what it was.”
Brown contrasted this with Jones` light heavyweight career, arguing its later phase became somewhat “uninteresting” with arguably close fights against Thiago Santos and Dominick Reyes. However, early in his UFC run, Jones had a deep pool of elite contenders like Mauricio Rua, Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans, and Daniel Cormier, whom he defeated.
Jones` move to heavyweight was seen as a culmination of his already impressive career.
Sadly, Aspinall doesn`t have the same luxury because the heavyweight division currently lacks depth and a strong influx of new talent.
Brown stated that Jones “ruined the freaking light heavyweight division” by defeating its legendary figures. He reiterated that the latter part of Jones` LHW run became less captivating, and suggested Aspinall is starting his reign in a similar “uninteresting” situation. Brown questioned fan interest in watching Aspinall face the current crop of heavyweights, noting that the division is supposed to be a major draw.
He compared the heavyweight division`s depth to some women`s divisions, where there are only one or two clear top contenders before a significant drop in perceived challenge. Brown described it as a “tough division right now,” wondering what the UFC could do to improve it, even jokingly suggesting they might “call Brock Lesnar back.”
Joking aside, Aspinall can still build his legacy by accumulating title defenses, but the caliber of his opponents will be a crucial factor in how his reign is perceived.
He used Demetrious Johnson as an example, noting that despite 11 consecutive title defenses, Johnson isn`t always placed at the very top of all-time lists, partly because the flyweight division lacked the depth Jon Jones faced at light heavyweight or Georges St-Pierre encountered at welterweight.
While Jon Jones might face criticism now for potentially avoiding Aspinall, his retirement effectively denied possibly his toughest potential challenger the opportunity to significantly solidify his own legacy in the current state of the heavyweight division.
Finally, Brown expressed his belief that Jon “doesn’t give a shit.” He thinks Jones is enjoying his wealth and lifestyle, partying, and is set for life. Brown doesn`t believe Jones retired due to fear of fighting Aspinall, even though he personally thinks Aspinall would pose a difficult challenge for Jones.
Brown summarized Jones` likely attitude as:
“Why should I go fight? F*ck yeah, I’m going to go party.”
Marcus Blakely 
Wesley Dunham