Jon Jones plays Ultimate Mind Games prior to a potential collision against Tom Aspinall, according to his former opponent, Anthony Smith.
Earlier this week, UFC -Fans heavyweight champion Jon Jones continued to label a 'duck' because he was hunted by thousands of fans during a spontaneous Instagram live.
Since defending his title against Stipe Miocic last November at UFC 309, Jones has continued to postpone a title Unification Fight against Tom Aspinall, which caused widespread frustration among the fans.
Jones' greatest rival ever, Daniel Cormier, believes that Jones is afraid of becoming one of the highlights of Aspinall, and that is why he continues to slow the fight.
Photo by Cooper Neill/Zuffa LLC
Jones accused of 'mentally tiring' Tom Aspinall with continuous delays
Despite constant delays on the side of Jones, UFC boss Dana White recently gave an update, which states that 'Bones' will certainly fight in 2025.
The next different Pay-per-View main events have already been announced, with the next opening UFC 321, which is said to take place in Abu Dhabi in October.
Islam Makhachev is a likely leader to head that event in a title fight against the recently crowned champion Welterweight, Jack della Maddalena.
That leaves the PPV open for the 37-year-old to defend his title against the Brit, in what is one of the largest fights that can currently be hit in sport.
And for that, Jones is accused of 'mentally tiring' Aspinall by his former opponent, Anthony Smith.
“Jon is a master manipulator and he is a master with mindgames behind the sport, he has been doing it for years against the best guys in the world,” Smith said on ESPN.
“I understand that Aspinall has this hunter mindset … The person who gives the least in every negotiation, wins. Jon Jones does not matter what Tom Aspinall wants and wants to do the opposite of what Aspinall wants.
“It is one of the most tiring things I have ever had to deal with, and I have to respect it, Jon is the master at emotionally and mentally tiring people and you can already see it in Tom Aspinall,” Smith continued.
Anthony Smith believes that Jon Jones Tom Aspinall is mentally tiring 🧠😮
“Jon is a master manipulator, and he is a master in the mind games behind this sport. He has been doing it against the best guys in the world for so many years. Jon Jones doesn't matter what Tom … pic.twitter.com/dqifx2zkyi
– Red Corner MMA (@redcorner_Mma) 17 May 2025
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Paddy Pimblett begs the UFC Strip Jon Jones of heavyweight title
It is now about to ask fans to strip the UFC strip Jones from his title and promote Aspinall to the undisputed champion.
However, it is not only fans who believe that Jones has surpassed his time as the champion as the British UFC star, Paddy Pimblett has mixed the promotion to rid him.
“If you make Islam (Makhachev), Jones must be stripped,” Pimblett told TNT Sports.