UFC fighter Kevin Holland has defended Jon Jones for reportedly requesting a six-month training camp before fighting Tom Aspinall.
UFC heavyweight champion Jon Jones is still negotiating a fight with interim titleholder Tom Aspinall for later this year. UFC CEO Dana White says negotiations are nearing completion, and an announcement is expected soon.
While there`s positive news about the Jones vs. Aspinall fight, it might not happen as quickly as some fans hope. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani reported that Jones wants at least six months to prepare for Aspinall, making a June International Fight Week main event unlikely.
Jones`s request for a long camp has upset some fans eager for the heavyweight title unification fight. However, Kevin Holland, known for being a very active fighter, surprisingly defended Jones.
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Kevin Holland Defends Jon Jones’s Request for Six-Month Camp to Fight Tom Aspinall
During a recent appearance on Michael Bisping’s Believe You Me podcast, Holland supported Jones’s plan to take his time preparing for the Aspinall fight.
“I’m going to defend him a bit,” Holland said about Jones. “He’s been fighting for a long time and has faced many opponents. Tom Aspinall is incredibly tough. Jon Jones is the greatest fighter of his era, and he’s still competing at a high level now, potentially in Aspinall’s prime. If I were Jon Jones, I’d approach it like Floyd Mayweather or old-school boxers. I’d be the veteran in control.”
“We might not like it; we want the fight soon. But as I get older, I prefer to take my time,” Holland continued. “If I were Jon Jones, I’d do everything to make Tom Aspinall respect my legacy and dominance. By the time we fight, Aspinall might be mentally defeated. Hopefully, Tom won’t fall for that!”
Holland was asked how Aspinall should respond to Jones’s delays and suggested a surprising approach.
“If I were Tom, I’d want as much experience as possible. I’d want every advantage going into a fight with someone like Jon Jones,” Holland explained. “I’d want him to fear me, not the other way around, so he`s at a disadvantage… Jon Jones has shown he can take breaks and still dominate! I’d want to stay active and keep improving.”
Aspinall defended his interim heavyweight title against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304, after winning it against Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. After beating Blaydes, Aspinall told UFC officials he wouldn’t defend the interim title again and would wait for a shot at the undisputed title.
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Jon Jones Offered $50 Million to Fight Former UFC Heavyweight Champ
Meanwhile, Jones is committed to fighting at least once more in the UFC, likely against Aspinall. A win over Aspinall could lead to a fight with another former UFC heavyweight champion.
PFL founder Donn Davis recently offered Jones $50 million to fight Francis Ngannou. Jones and Ngannou had brief discussions about a fight in 2021 and 2022, but negotiations stopped due to Ngannou’s contract issues with White and the UFC.
Jones and Ngannou faced off at a PFL event in 2023, fueling rumors of a superfight. However, White is not interested in cross-promotion and has a long-standing rivalry with Ngannou.
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