“Yet He Turned Down $30 Million” – Jon Jones Calling Tom Aspinall ‘Quitter’ Leaves MMA Fans Furious

UFC veteran Jon Jones calls out the heavyweight champion following the recent eye-poke debacle at UFC 321.

“Yet He Turned Down $30 Million” – Jon Jones Calling Tom Aspinall ‘Quitter’ Leaves MMA Fans Furious

Jon Jones mocks Tom Aspinall (via X)

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In the main event of UFC 320, Tom Aspinall faced Ciryl Gane in a heavyweight title clash. Both fighters entered the Octagon promising vicious knockouts, fueling massive excitement among fans and experts who expected an explosive showdown. However, the bout ended abruptly in anticlimactic fashion, leading Jon Jones to criticize the reigning heavyweight champion’s overall performance harshly.

In the first round, Gane accidentally poked Aspinall’s eye, forcing the referee to stop the fight after the painful incident. The heavyweight champion was given recovery time, but unfortunately, his vision didn’t improve, resulting in an unfortunate no-contest. Many fans and analysts heavily criticized Aspinall, accusing him of lacking toughness and giving up too soon. 

Dana White expressed his frustration with the unsatisfactory ending, subtly suggesting Aspinall should have continued fighting. The UFC CEO appeared disappointed, considering the hype surrounding the anticipated matchup between two elite heavyweights. In a recent interview, Jon Jones weighed in, claiming Aspinall’s reaction reflected a recurring tendency to fold under pressure mentally. 

When Tom gets hurt, he’s like immediately incapacitated. It’s like you poke my eye, there was no like. I would have been the silliest looking cat on national TV [blinking my eyes] trying. He did the same thing with Curtis Blaydes when he hurt his knee.There was no limping. There was no trying to get up. He was just immediately ‘burn my village, I can’t go on!…He immediately quit.

Jon Jones via No Script Podcast 

Following the incident, Aspinall was immediately taken to the hospital, where doctors found no permanent damage but supported his cautious decision. His father and coach, Andy Aspinall, later revealed that Tom couldn’t see properly for three days after the eye poke. Andy expressed frustration toward the UFC, urging Dana White to penalize fighters who frequently commit fouls and eye pokes. 

Following the incident, several analysts reignited the debate about eye pokes and the potential rule changes required to prevent them. Many experts argued that stricter penalties should be enforced to discourage reckless hand placement during exchanges inside the Octagon. Others defended the fighters, explaining that such fouls often occur naturally due to extended striking stances and defensive tactics. 

However, fans humorously suggested that a hypothetical Jones versus Aspinall matchup could have ended similarly. This sentiment stems from Jones’ long-known reputation for frequent eye pokes throughout his controversial UFC career. Regardless, the outcome indirectly favored Jones‘ potential return next year. 

Fight fans react to Jon Jones’ recent comments on Tom Aspinall

Following the incident, Jon Jones wasted no time mocking Tom Aspinall, reigniting their long-standing rivalry that had simmered for months. He confidently accepted Alex Pereira’s public callout, expressing his willingness to fight at the prestigious White House event before global audiences.

Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall
Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall (via X)

Jones claimed this bout could potentially “save” the heavyweight division, which has suffered from uncertainty following recent chaotic results. Meanwhile, Aspinall’s controversial performance inadvertently boosted the momentum behind a potential Pereira versus Jones showdown that fans now crave.

The excitement surrounding this possible matchup has reached unprecedented levels, with many calling it the most electrifying fight ever. Nevertheless, here are some of the most notable comments from Jones’ recent comments on Aspinall. 

As expected, many fans criticized Jon Jones for his hypocrisy, calling Aspinall a quitter while repeatedly avoiding him despite public criticism. Several fans reminded how Jones denied the UK fighter multiple opportunities and even rejected a hefty fight purse from UFC.

Others argued that if Jones truly believed Aspinall was such an easy fight, he should have accepted and proven his dominance. However, some supporters defended the veteran champion, insisting his remarks toward Aspinall were justified. 

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