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‘He’s a conqueror’ – Joe Rogan breaks down Jon Jones’ mindset for Tom Aspinall fight
Joe Rogan is confident Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall. The popular UFC commentator and podcaster believes Jones’ championship mentality wouldn’t allow him to sit back and wait for another option, or possibly retire. ‘Bones’ has held the UFC heavyweight title for over two yearsgetty Aspinall has been waiting patiently for a crack at the title during the same timegetty ‘Bones’ has been king of UFC‘s heaviest division since he submitted Ciryl Gane in 2023 on his return to the sport after a three-year, injury-ridden hiatus. The promotion’s youngest-ever champion has since defended it against Stipe Mioicic at UFC 309 last November, and is currently in negotiations to fight Britain’s Aspinall. Aspinall holds interim championship status in the same division and has admitted several times that he only wants to fight for Jones’ title next. This has prompted debates among the MMA community with many arguing that Jones doesn’t need the fight and other’s saying he 37-year-old must unify the division to cement his legacy. Speaking to former UFC champion Ilia Topuria on his podcast, Rogan explained why he believes the fight is destined to happen. “Jon Jones is one of the greatest of all time,” he said, speaking on his favourite UFC fighters ever before Topuria asks him the inevitable question. “Yes. I think he’ll fight Tom. I think he’ll hang out…for glory. One more glory before the lights fade,” Rogan added. “Jon’s a conqueror. I think he can’t sit back. The guy developed a spinning back kick at 36! “[He] didn’t have a spinning back kick his whole career, then all of a sudden knocks out Stipe with a spinning back kick for the heavyweight title at 36, 37 years old — that’s crazy. “Jon’s fight IQ is insane, and did a lot of his career partying, which is even crazier. He diminished his body… Rogan doesn’t think Jones can just sit back as he is a ‘conqueror’ Jones is arguably the greatest MMA fighter of all timeGetty Images - Getty “He was so good but he was so good that he was better than everyone in his division. “So he didn’t work hard, and then when he has to work hard he’s f***ing terrifying.” Rogan then made a point that when Jones defended his light heavyweight title against Alexander Gustafsson for the first time in 2013 his coaches nearly stopped the fight as the American wasn’t training. The UFC 165 main event finished with Jones claiming a tight unanimous decision victory over the Swedish man in what was a very competitive fight. However, in their eventual rematch five years later, Jones looked a shadow of his first performance as he had endured a gruelling training camp, and he knocked out Gustafsson in the third round. Reports have suggested that ‘Bones’ wants to undergo a six-month training camp to prepare for Aspinall, and that’s hardly unsurprising given the threat of the Englishman. Aspinall has been nothing short of deadly in every one of his UFC winsGetty The 32-year-old from Greater Manchester is desperate to unify the division Aspinall has gone past the first round once in his nine UFC fights, stopping eight of his victories finishes in the first round. He has secured Performance of the Night bonuses in all three of his last fights, knocking out Marcin Tybura, Sergei Pavlovich (to win the interim title), and Curtis Blaydes all in devastating fashion in round one. Speaking to talkSPORT.com last month, former UFC champion and British MMA legend Michael Bisping said Jones should ‘hurry up or retire’ when asked about his prospective Aspinall fight. “If they don’t announce it soon they’re really going to talk about stripping this guy,” he said. “Simply, I mean, any other sport, if this was boxing, you would be stripped. “If you don’t fight the mandatory challenger, you will be stripped…it’s just madness…. Bisping believes Jones should retire if he doesn’t accept the Aspinall fight soonGetty “He’s been an incredible champion but he needs to hurry up with this fight. “Simple as that, or retire.”
Joe Rogan is confident Jon Jones will defend his UFC heavyweight title against Tom Aspinall.
The popular UFC commentator and podcaster believes Jones’ championship mentality wouldn’t allow him to sit back and wait for another option, or possibly retire.
‘Bones’ has been king of UFC‘s heaviest division since he submitted Ciryl Gane in 2023 on his return to the sport after a three-year, injury-ridden hiatus.
The promotion’s youngest-ever champion has since defended it against Stipe Mioicic at UFC 309 last November, and is currently in negotiations to fight Britain’s Aspinall.
Aspinall holds interim championship status in the same division and has admitted several times that he only wants to fight for Jones’ title next.
This has prompted debates among the MMA community with many arguing that Jones doesn’t need the fight and other’s saying he 37-year-old must unify the division to cement his legacy.
Speaking to former UFC champion Ilia Topuria on his podcast, Rogan explained why he believes the fight is destined to happen.
“Jon Jones is one of the greatest of all time,” he said, speaking on his favourite UFC fighters ever before Topuria asks him the inevitable question.
“Yes. I think he’ll fight Tom. I think he’ll hang out…for glory. One more glory before the lights fade,” Rogan added.
“Jon’s a conqueror. I think he can’t sit back. The guy developed a spinning back kick at 36!
“[He] didn’t have a spinning back kick his whole career, then all of a sudden knocks out Stipe with a spinning back kick for the heavyweight title at 36, 37 years old — that’s crazy.
“Jon’s fight IQ is insane, and did a lot of his career partying, which is even crazier. He diminished his body…
“He was so good but he was so good that he was better than everyone in his division.
“So he didn’t work hard, and then when he has to work hard he’s f***ing terrifying.”
Rogan then made a point that when Jones defended his light heavyweight title against Alexander Gustafsson for the first time in 2013 his coaches nearly stopped the fight as the American wasn’t training.
The UFC 165 main event finished with Jones claiming a tight unanimous decision victory over the Swedish man in what was a very competitive fight.
However, in their eventual rematch five years later, Jones looked a shadow of his first performance as he had endured a gruelling training camp, and he knocked out Gustafsson in the third round.
Reports have suggested that ‘Bones’ wants to undergo a six-month training camp to prepare for Aspinall, and that’s hardly unsurprising given the threat of the Englishman.
Aspinall has gone past the first round once in his nine UFC fights, stopping eight of his victories finishes in the first round.
He has secured Performance of the Night bonuses in all three of his last fights, knocking out Marcin Tybura, Sergei Pavlovich (to win the interim title), and Curtis Blaydes all in devastating fashion in round one.
Speaking to talkSPORT.com last month, former UFC champion and British MMA legend Michael Bisping said Jones should ‘hurry up or retire’ when asked about his prospective Aspinall fight.
“If they don’t announce it soon they’re really going to talk about stripping this guy,” he said.
“Simply, I mean, any other sport, if this was boxing, you would be stripped.
“If you don’t fight the mandatory challenger, you will be stripped…it’s just madness….
“He’s been an incredible champion but he needs to hurry up with this fight.
“Simple as that, or retire.”
