Tom Aspinall’s Bold Strategy to Provoke Jon Jones
The interim heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall, is employing a new tactic to lure reigning champion Jon Jones into a fight. Frustrated by Jones’s apparent disinterest, Aspinall has shifted from respectful pleas to a more provocative approach, aiming to get under the champion’s skin. This change in strategy has garnered approval from former fighter and analyst Daniel Cormier, who believes it’s the key to forcing Jones’s hand.
Aspinall’s Shift to Provocation
Tom Aspinall, holding the interim heavyweight title, has been vocal about his desire to face the undisputed champion, Jon Jones. However, Jones has consistently expressed his commitment to a super-fight against Stipe Miocic, seemingly sidelining any immediate plans for Aspinall. This prolonged waiting game led Aspinall to re-evaluate his approach. Instead of continuing with respectful calls for a fight, he has pivoted to a more aggressive and, frankly, humorous strategy of publicly calling out and even mocking Jones. This new tactic involves creating skits and engaging in playful jabs, designed to get a reaction from the often stoic champion. Aspinall seems to have realized that persistent, respectful challenges were easily ignored, but a more attention-grabbing method might just be what’s needed to break through Jones’s current focus.
Cormier’s Endorsement of the New Tactic
Daniel Cormier, a respected voice in the MMA community and a former two-division champion, has openly endorsed Aspinall’s new, more provocative approach. Cormier, speaking on his „Funky and the Champ“ podcast with Ben Askren, highlighted how Aspinall’s shift from deference to direct provocation is a significant win in itself. He noted that previously, Jones could easily dismiss Aspinall’s calls, but the current strategy makes him harder to ignore. Cormier believes that this persistent needling could force Jones’s hand, especially if Aspinall directly accuses him of being afraid to fight. Cormier understands Jones’s personality and suggests that while Jones might not openly admit fear, Aspinall’s tactics could create a situation where Jones feels compelled to respond, potentially leading to the fight being made.
The Path to a Championship Bout
The ultimate goal for Tom Aspinall is to unify the heavyweight titles, and his current strategy is a calculated effort to achieve that. By employing humor and direct challenges, Aspinall is attempting to create a narrative that resonates with fight fans and puts pressure on Jon Jones and the UFC matchmaking team. Cormier suggests that if Aspinall continues to push the envelope, even calling Jones out for potentially avoiding the fight, it could build a groundswell of public opinion that the champion cannot afford to ignore. This, in turn, could force Jones’s hand, making the fight with Aspinall more appealing or necessary than his long-desired showdown with Miocic. The interim champion is clearly playing a long game, using the power of public perception and a touch of showmanship to carve his path back to a title unification bout.
