Team Khabib Head Coach Exposes Jon Jones’ Mentality Amidst Tom Aspinall Fight Delay

Delay in the Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones heavyweight title unification bout is all about mentality, according to a prominent head coach.

Team Khabib Head Coach Exposes Jon Jones’ Mentality Amidst Tom Aspinall Fight Delay

Javier Mendez reveals the reason for Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones fight delay (Image via BBC/Fight Book)

What is the reason for such a long delay in the UFC heavyweight title unification bout? So far, all signs point to Jon ‘Bones’ Jones. Frustrated is the perfect word to describe the moods of Tom Aspinall and the MMA fan base because of the delay from Jones. In this period of inactivity, many UFC legends have called upon Jones to defend his throne. However, very few have explained the motives of the heavyweight champion.

Javier Mendez is the head coach of Team Khabib Nurmagomedov. The head coach remains among the few individuals in the MMA community who understands what Jones is thinking. While many berate ‘Bones’ for delaying the fight, Mendez believes that a mentality aspect was playing a hidden role for alleged ‘ducking’ that is going on. The record-breaking delay is based on Jones’ obsession with winning, according to Javier Mendez.

Jon Jones is not the type of guy that likes to lose. He’s such a winner in every aspect of what he does that you’re not going to push him into a fight. If he doesn’t feel he can win that fight and doesn’t have a good advantage, he’s not gonna take it. But Aspinall is one of those, ‘Do you really want to take this fight?’ I think the UFC is going to have to put a lot of money out there for Jon to say, ‘I’m down.’

Jones has fought a lot of killers throughout his career in the UFC. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Alexander Gustafsson, Daniel Cormier, and Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua are some of the best light heavyweight fighters in history. However, none of them stood a chance against Jones. Granted, Gustafsson, Machida, and Cormier posed troubles for the GOAT candidate, but no one emerged victorious.

When it comes to Tom Aspinall, there is a physicality aspect that comes into play. None of the light heavyweight fighters posed a physical threat to Jon Jones. However, the athleticism, knockout power, and speed of Aspinall trumps Jones in every aspect. The undisputed champion will need to rely on grappling skills and weather the storm in the early rounds to achieve success.

The advantage appears to be on the side of Aspinall. This is why the Team Khabib head coach believed Jones might not want the Aspinall challenge. There is an uncertainty in his mind on whether he can defeat the British heavyweight star. As such, the delay will continue. The only thing that can change the mind of Jones is money at the moment.

Tom Aspinall gains support of BJJ superstar to enact revenge on Jon Jones

Due to the long delay, Tom Aspinall has gained the support of many MMA fans and personalities. UFC stars such as Colby Covington, Magomed Ankalaev, and Curtis Blaydes have called upon the promotion to book the heavyweight title unification bout. Covington and Ankalaev even used the word ‘ducking’ to mock ‘Bones.’

Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones prediction
Tom Aspinall vs. Jon Jones (via X)

Now, a new name has publicly issued support to the interim heavyweight champion. Craig Jones is Alexander Volkanovski and Jack Della Maddalena’s BJJ coach. He is famous in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu community for his beef with No-Gi GOAT Gordon Ryan. There is a connection between is Ryan and Aspinall in this scenario.

Gordon Ryan has trained Jon Jones since 2023 to improve the grappling skills. He was also heavily involved in Jones’ camp for the Stipe Miocic bout at UFC 309. Now, as Ryan trains ‘Bones’ for the Tom Aspinall fight, one fan asked Craig Jones if he will train the British heavyweight for the fight. This way, the BJJ personality can stick it up to Ryan if Aspinall defeats the consensus UFC GOAT.

After looking at the comment, Craig Jones offered to train Aspinall, which the UK native accepted without a second thought. It remains to be seen if the duo will collaborate to defeat the duo of Jon Jones and Gordon Ryan. However, before that, the UFC needs to book the title unification bout.

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