Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t want to see Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall – there’s only one reason why
Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t want to see Jon Jones fight Tom Aspinall. The UFC middleweight champion is set to headline UFC 312 this Sunday as he defends his belt for the second time against Sean Strickland. Du Plessis won the belt from Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024Getty Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall would be the biggest fight of 2025 if it comes to fruition. Jones is the UFC heavyweight champion and has been heavily linked with a fight to defend his belt in a mouthwatering undisputed clash against Britain’s Aspinall, who is the interim champion of the division. After defending his belt against the now-retired Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November, Jones was adamant that he preferred a legacy-defining bout with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira instead of Aspinall. The 37-year-old insisted he was done with fighting ‘dangerous up-and-comers’ in his post-fight press conference as he continued to show little interest in facing Wigan’s Aspinall. Both men are arguably the two biggest stars in the UFC right now, and have gone back and forth plenty of times. Aspinall asserted in December when speaking to Piers Morgan that Jones could not be considered the greatest UFC fighter of all time due to his multiple failed drug tests. UFC commentator Joe Rogan then claimed last month that Jones wanted $30million to fight Aspinall, and although the amount wouldn’t be too far off of that number, UFC President Dana White confirmed the rumour was ‘bulls***’. “Let me tell you this. Tom Aspinall is an incredible guy,” Du Plessis told Mark Bouris when discussing Jones and his favourite fighters in the UFC. “Awesome, awesome man. So humble, nice, gentle giant until he gets in there of course.” Du Plessis then explained why he doesn’t ‘need’ to see a fight between Aspinall and Jones. Du Plessis said he doesn’t want the fight as he doesn’t want either man to lose Dricus Du Plessis' last five fights in the UFC Unstoppable Win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024 via fourth-round submission (first title defence) Win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024 via split decision (won UFC middleweight title) Win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July 2023 via second-round KO/TKO Win over Derek Brunson at UFC 285 in March 2023 via second-round KO/TKO Win over Darren Till at UFC 282 in December 2022 via third-round submission “You have Jones who is definitely at the end of his career. What’s he, 38 years old?” the South African added. “I don’t need to see this because he’s never been beaten. So I don’t need to see Jon Jones fight Aspinall because I don’t want either one of them to lose. I want Jon Jones to retire unbeaten. “Of course he had that DQ for 12-6 which is now legal but unbeaten and the legend that he is. “And I want him to retire and Aspinall goes on to be the next big thing. But Jon Jones being the warrior that he is, he says pay me enough and I’m doing it. “Aspinall wants it and one of them has to lose that fight. And that’s the one thing, you look at it and you go Aspinall’s probably going to win. But then if you ask me that, I say no, no, no. “We’ve said that so many times with Jon Jones and he makes it look easy. He is the greatest of all time, for sure. You can’t deny that. Du Plessis believes Jones is the greatest of all timegetty UFC 297: Strickland vs Du Plessis (January, 2024) Stats Sean Strickland Significant strikes – 173 of 408 Total strikes – 183 of 419 Takedowns – 0 of 0 Dricus Du Plessis Significant strikes – 137 of 354 Total strikes – 140 of 358 Takedowns – 6 of 11 “Up until now, for now, up until this date where fighting exists, he is the GOAT.” Du Plessis goes into his rematch with Strickland as the favourite, having beaten him in their first bout to win his title last January. Although Strickland landed more significant strikes during the bout, Du Plessis dealt the damaging blows, and ultimately dominated his American counterpart on the canvas, landing six of his 11 takedowns to secure a razor-thin win. Strickland even acknowledged Du Plessis’ expert ground game in a recent plea to the UFC champion by asking him not to use it in their rematch. Du Plessis has a perfect record of eight wins and no losses in the UFC, with six finishes and four fight-night bonus awards since making his debut in October 2020. Strickland, meanwhile, has been in the UFC for over ten years, and shockingly won the middleweight belt having beaten Israel Adesanya to a unanimous decision victory at UFC 293. Both men are known for their unorthodox fighting styles, with Strickland standing very upright during his bouts and Du Plessis sending waves of strikes in awkward, yet extremely powerful bursts.
Dricus Du Plessis doesn’t want to see Jon Jones fight Tom Aspinall.
The UFC middleweight champion is set to headline UFC 312 this Sunday as he defends his belt for the second time against Sean Strickland.
Jon Jones vs Tom Aspinall would be the biggest fight of 2025 if it comes to fruition.
Jones is the UFC heavyweight champion and has been heavily linked with a fight to defend his belt in a mouthwatering undisputed clash against Britain’s Aspinall, who is the interim champion of the division.
After defending his belt against the now-retired Stipe Miocic at UFC 309 last November, Jones was adamant that he preferred a legacy-defining bout with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira instead of Aspinall.
The 37-year-old insisted he was done with fighting ‘dangerous up-and-comers’ in his post-fight press conference as he continued to show little interest in facing Wigan’s Aspinall.
Both men are arguably the two biggest stars in the UFC right now, and have gone back and forth plenty of times.
Aspinall asserted in December when speaking to Piers Morgan that Jones could not be considered the greatest UFC fighter of all time due to his multiple failed drug tests.
UFC commentator Joe Rogan then claimed last month that Jones wanted $30million to fight Aspinall, and although the amount wouldn’t be too far off of that number, UFC President Dana White confirmed the rumour was ‘bulls***’.
“Let me tell you this. Tom Aspinall is an incredible guy,” Du Plessis told Mark Bouris when discussing Jones and his favourite fighters in the UFC.
“Awesome, awesome man. So humble, nice, gentle giant until he gets in there of course.”
Du Plessis then explained why he doesn’t ‘need’ to see a fight between Aspinall and Jones.
Dricus Du Plessis' last five fights in the UFC
Unstoppable
- Win over Israel Adesanya at UFC 305 in August 2024 via fourth-round submission (first title defence)
- Win over Sean Strickland at UFC 297 in January 2024 via split decision (won UFC middleweight title)
- Win over Robert Whittaker at UFC 290 in July 2023 via second-round KO/TKO
- Win over Derek Brunson at UFC 285 in March 2023 via second-round KO/TKO
- Win over Darren Till at UFC 282 in December 2022 via third-round submission
“You have Jones who is definitely at the end of his career. What’s he, 38 years old?” the South African added.
“I don’t need to see this because he’s never been beaten. So I don’t need to see Jon Jones fight Aspinall because I don’t want either one of them to lose. I want Jon Jones to retire unbeaten.
“Of course he had that DQ for 12-6 which is now legal but unbeaten and the legend that he is.
“And I want him to retire and Aspinall goes on to be the next big thing. But Jon Jones being the warrior that he is, he says pay me enough and I’m doing it.
“Aspinall wants it and one of them has to lose that fight. And that’s the one thing, you look at it and you go Aspinall’s probably going to win. But then if you ask me that, I say no, no, no.
“We’ve said that so many times with Jon Jones and he makes it look easy. He is the greatest of all time, for sure. You can’t deny that.
UFC 297: Strickland vs Du Plessis (January, 2024)
Stats
- Sean Strickland
Significant strikes – 173 of 408
Total strikes – 183 of 419
Takedowns – 0 of 0
- Dricus Du Plessis
Significant strikes – 137 of 354
Total strikes – 140 of 358
Takedowns – 6 of 11
“Up until now, for now, up until this date where fighting exists, he is the GOAT.”
Du Plessis goes into his rematch with Strickland as the favourite, having beaten him in their first bout to win his title last January.
Although Strickland landed more significant strikes during the bout, Du Plessis dealt the damaging blows, and ultimately dominated his American counterpart on the canvas, landing six of his 11 takedowns to secure a razor-thin win.
Strickland even acknowledged Du Plessis’ expert ground game in a recent plea to the UFC champion by asking him not to use it in their rematch.
Du Plessis has a perfect record of eight wins and no losses in the UFC, with six finishes and four fight-night bonus awards since making his debut in October 2020.
Strickland, meanwhile, has been in the UFC for over ten years, and shockingly won the middleweight belt having beaten Israel Adesanya to a unanimous decision victory at UFC 293.
Both men are known for their unorthodox fighting styles, with Strickland standing very upright during his bouts and Du Plessis sending waves of strikes in awkward, yet extremely powerful bursts.
