One of the former enemies of Jon Jones does not know how to feel about his potential UFC Comback.
UFC heavyweight champion Jones remains in active negotiations with the copper to fight against interim title holder Tom Aspinall in a heavyweight unification later this year. But although all signs indicate a likely booking, not everyone is all-in on the Jones vs. Aspinall Showdown.
After Jones defeated the former heavyweight champion Stipe Miocic in his first defending defense at UFC 309, attention may focused on the Aspinall fight for flowering. But six months later there are more questions than answers about the title photo of the heavyweight division.
Although Aspinall and Jones recently plagued positive fighting news, including Jones who shows off his fight poster Wall, the potential return from Jones to the Octagon is not a foregone conclusion. And in the meantime, one of Jones' former rivals ask if he should follow a last hurray in the cage.
Split image of Jon Jones who is being interviewed and Tom Aspinall on the UFC Apex: Credits: Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC and Chris Unger
Rashad Evans is concerned about Jon Jones' potential comeback to fight Tom Aspinall
During a recent interview with MMA fights, Rashad Evans admitted that he has mixed feelings about a comeback from Jones.
“Here is the thing that I am a bit cracked about it,” Evans said. “I feel that the part of me, the fan side of mine certainly wants to see it. I certainly want to see it. But the other part of me that is very impressed by what Jon Jones can do, wants to see him go at the top and don't even have to [fight again].
'Because there is something about it, there will always be someone. He defeats Tom Aspinall, people [will say] Yes, there is this new guy. There will always be the last dragon for Vanquish. Some of me can respect him because he does not take on the fight, but another part of me is just like humans, you better do the F – up and beat this boy. I am a bit mixed about being honest. “
Evans continued to question Jones's motivations for a last hurray in the Octagon against the Upstart Aspinall.
“I don't know Jon Jones now and I don't know if there is a part of him that this needs this in a certain way,” said Evans about Jones. “There is sometimes that you can be in something for so long that it is just so much that you are, rediscovering yourself in another frame outside may not be something that you are ready to explore, and maybe not something that you are ready to give up.”
In the third light heavyweight, Jones and Evans fought title defense of the first at UFC 145, where Jones was discussed for a unanimous decision. For their fight, Jones and Evans were good friends and old teammates at Jackson-Wink MMA in New Mexico, before Evans left the gym in a messy divorce.
In the run-up to Jones's most recent victory over Miocic, Jones teased a potential super fight against the then UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Alex Pereira about the Aspinall fight. But after Pereira lost to Magomed Ankalaev on UFC 313, the Jones vs. Pereira fight removed from the conversation.
Tom Aspinall earned unwanted record in the midst of Jon Jones Title fight
Aspinall recently became the longest reigning interim champion of the UFC, which emerged from his short-notice-knock-out victory on Sergei Pavlovich on UFC 295. He defended the interim title by Curtis Blaydes in a round in UFC 304 last July.
The tensions between Jones and Aspinall have been shot up in recent months, because the negotiations remain in a holding pattern. But Aspinall recently hinted that he was 'sworn to confidential' about a possible fighting announcement after a meeting with UFC CBO Hunter Campbell in London earlier this year.
While waiting for Jones vs. Aspinall, the debate is raging about how the fight will come out. But Evans, who has a long history with Jones with many ups and downs, wonders how he would treat the current situation if he was in the position of Jones.