Jon Jones gets surprising support from Team Khabib after delaying Tom Aspinall super fight

Javier Mendez in defense of Jon Jones taking a long time out for UFC 265-pound unification vs. interim champ Tom Aspinall.

Jon Jones gets surprising support from Team Khabib after delaying Tom Aspinall super fight

Javier Mendez supports Jon Jones prolonging to prep for Tom Aspinall UFC unification bout (Source: X/IMAGO)

Brit interim heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall is in a rare slump and remains on the verge of breaking Renan Barao’s record of holding a substitute gold for 535 days. Jon Jones is very much still in play; he is unwilling on a 265-pound unification, though. Jones’ checkered history and unwillingness to unify have drawn many responses and thoughts this past year. One of which was Team AKA’s Javier Mendez.

‘Bones’ came in green for estrogen blockers clomiphene/letrozole in 2016, after beating Ovince Saint Preux. On the log, his second go at Daniel Cormier was overturned for a Turinabol metabolite. Javier Mendez himself has said that all his DQs, law run-ins, and such during the phase put him out of the board of GOAT talks. Clearly, it doesn’t always go his way. But with the Tom Aspinall fight looming behind, Mendez agreed that Jon Jones was doing ‘Jones’ things and prepared for his best self.

He wants to win… He does everything he can to win; he’s a perfectionist. This guy will do everything he can to win. He’s a winner. He’s a great, great athlete. He needs to be properly prepared for what he’s gonna bring to the table, and he wants to absolutely crush Tom Aspinall…He’s been that way for years. I don’t blame him—why should he rush and become somebody he’s not? He needs to be who he is. He’s been a winner his whole life…

Javier Mendez on the ‘Javier & Mo Show’ – Ep#3 with Mo Azizah (@JavierMoShow)

The infamy Jones has, despite his turbulent history, comes from his record. UFC stats and record books have him logging an enormous amount of ballot title fights. One which has him treading ahead many other names for that sole reason. On paper, ‘Bones’ has now also shifted from his grand 205-pound legacy and is 2-0 in a new weight class.

Jones did initially nag on that Tom Aspinall was just the next new thing and the dream fight did nothing for his legacy if he wanted an out. However, he settled for a six-month pre-fight camp period and a “f—k you” money for the unification bout. Javier Mendez, like many others, agreed that Jones has enough street cred to take his time and prepare for it.

Henry Cejudo cites Khabib Nurmagomedov to make a case for Jon Jones’ value in unification affair

There are some who think Jon Jones’ rumored $30 million compensation for unification is way beyond reality. There are some who’d bill he does not get to ask that in just his sophomore appearance at heavyweight. Interim HW Tom Aspinall is fresh meat in comparison, but has logged more heavyweight matchups than him.

Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall payday should be big enough, per former champ
Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall payday should be big enough, per former champ (Source: X)

Aspinall even made a rare defense of his interim gold with a first-round TKO of Curtis Blaydes in the Manchester PPV card this past July. However, when it comes to MMA GOAT talks, Jones is just a wee bit ahead by all means; even the rival agrees and hence wants to unify. Additionally, Henry Cejudo thinks UFC champion Jon Jones has the credentials to ask for a massive payday for it.

Joe Rogan just came up with the whole $30 million deal, keep it at $30 million, he just helped you, …This is what should be the storyline. If they’re willing to give Khabib Nurmagomedov $40 million — what is the greatest of all time worth? …If Joe Rogan just said there’s a $30 million deal in there, let’s do it. Stick to that number. You’re undefeated, you deserve it.

Henry Cejudo via The Bohnfire, Ep. 26 with MMAJunkie’s Mike Bohn

With Cormier citing that Khabib Nurmagomedov was on the tab for UFC’s $40 million offer to come out of retirement, Cejudo thought Jones deserved big paydays, too. UFC CEO Dana White later said a Jones vs. Aspinall matchup was on the way, but made Joe Rogan redacted the dream sum. However, Cejudo said to stick to it long enough to make it real.

Related: Jon Jones ‘small flex’ backfires as newly crowned Magomed Ankalaev digs up dirty past