‘I see openings’… Tom Aspinall reacts to Jon Jones’ third-round knockout over Stipe Miocic to retain title at UFC 309

Jon 'Bones' Jones retained his heavyweight title last night in the main event of UFC 309 when he fell and then stopped former champion Stipe Miocic with a vicious body kick in the third round.

However, not everyone was impressed with Jon Jones' performance, with interim champion and expected next opponent Tom Aspinall claiming that seeing 'Bones' up close has given him the knowledge needed to claim undisputed glory.

Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC

Tom Aspinall responds to Jon Jones' title win with a third-round knockout at UFC 309

The former light heavyweight champion was the heavy betting favorite heading into UFC 309 and the oddsmakers were spot on, with Jones dominating Stipe Miocic right from the opening bell before ultimately scoring a fantastic third-round knockout.

“It was, as you American guys say, by design,” said Tom Aspinall via the ESPN MMA post-show, explaining how the fight was “exactly what I thought, exactly what I thought was going to happen.

“To beat Jon Jones, the most important things you need are good eyes, good reactions and quick reactions. Honestly, Stipe Miocic just didn't have that at 42 years old.”

While Jones may be eager for a super fight with Alex Pereira, the British juggernaut believes he has seen everything he needs to come up with a winning game plan for 'Bones'.

“Obviously I've only ever seen Jon Jones fight on TV, this is the first time I've seen him up close and I was sitting within arm's length of the UFC octagon – it's very different watching it on TV than watching it up close to look at.

“I'm so glad I got to see a close-up version of what Jon Jones looks like at the age of 37 and I'm very satisfied at the end of his career.”

When asked if there was a specific drawback he noticed with the consensus GOAT, Aspinall simply teased: “The speed, just the speed – there's no chance he can do that, I don't want to say too much, you know what I mean.”

While Aspinall declined to provide details on what his strategy might be, the 15-3 finisher did state that he has plenty of options to win against the greatest consensus of all time.

“Absolutely, I see everything… Whether I can do it in there, you know Jon Jones might be the best to ever do it, but I definitely see openings. I don't know if I can do it myself, but when I look outside, I think I can.”

Dana White says Jones vs Aspinall would be 'the biggest fight we've ever done'

Despite Tom Aspinall being interim champion for more than a full year, Jon Jones is still holding out hope that he can make a superfight next with light heavyweight champion Alex Pereira.

While Jones vs. Pereira would be an incredible match, both Aspinall and Dana White agree that their undisputed heavyweight showdown would draw the bigger crowd.

“When Jones started talking about retirement, when he started talking about Alex Pereira; nothing, it was dead quiet, but as soon as he mentioned me the crowd erupted again,” said Aspinall.

“I've talked to the UFC brass a little bit, and I'll talk to them some more and in my opinion, obviously I'm biased, but I think this is the greatest heavyweight fight in UFC history and it's the fight that people want to see.”

At the post-fight press conference, Dana White agreed with Aspinall's assessment: “It doesn't have the potential to be that way – it will be that way. [the biggest fight ever].

“It will be the biggest heavyweight fight ever and probably the biggest fight we've ever done.”

Later at that same press conference, White would also confirm that the UFC is about to make a major and “permanent” change to the way fights are conducted.

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